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Department Chemical Engineering

Year E1
Semester II
Course Name Chemical Process Calculations
Course Code CH1201
Course Credit 3
Name of the Faculty CHINTHAYYANAIDU RUDRAM

Module - 5
Humidity

Objectives
 To learn the humidity and terminology in humidity.
 How to use the psychometric charts
charts.
Reading Material
Molal Humidity is the ratio of the moles of vapour to the moles of vapour
vapour-free
free gas
Molal Humidity = p vapour/(ptot – p vapour )
H’= n vapour/n vapour-free gas
It is also called as molal saturation.
Humidity iss the concentration of water vapour present in the air.
Humidity, H = mass vapour/ mass drygas
H’=H X (molecular weight vapor) / (molecular weight dry air)
It is also called as mass Humidity.
Relative Humidityis
is the ratio of the vapour pressure of the moist air to its saturation
vapour pressure at its temperature
R.H = (p vapour/ Psatvapour)
Partial Saturation. If a gas contains a vapor in such proportions thatits partial pressure is
less than the vapor pressure of the liquid at theexisting temperature, the mixture is but
partially saturated. The relative saturation of such a mixture may
ay be defined as the
percentage ratioof the partial pressure of the vapor to the vapor pressure of the liquid at the
existing temperature. The relative saturation is therefore afunction of both the composition
of the mixture and its temperature aswell as oof the nature of the vapor.
From its definition it follows that the relative saturation also representsthe following ratios:
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a. The ratio of the percentage of vapor by volume to the percentageby volume which would
be present were the gas saturated at the existingtemperature and total pressure.
b. The ratio of the weight of vapor per unit volume of mixture tothe weight per unit volume
present at saturation at the existing temperatureand total pressure.
Another useful means for expressing the degree of satur
saturation of a vapor-bearing
bearing gas may
be termed the percentage saturation. The percentage saturation is defined as the percentage
ratio of the existing weight of vapor per unit weight of vapor-free
vapor free gas to the weight of
vapor which would exist per unit weight of vapor-free
free gas if the mixture were saturated at
the existing temperature and pressure. The percentage saturation also represents the ratio of
the existing moles of vapor per mole of vapor
vapor-free
free gas to the moles of vapor which would
be present per mole of vapor--free
free gas if the mixture were saturated at the existing
temperature and pressure.
Care must be exercised that the relative saturation and the percentage saturation are not
confused. They approach equality when the vapor concentrations approach zero but are
different at all other conditions.
Percentage Relative Humidityis
Humidityis the ratio of the vapour pressure of the moist air to its
saturation vapour pressure at its temperature
yr = (p vapour/ Psatvapour) X 100
It is also called as relative saturation.
Percentage Saturation is the ratio of the moles of the vapor per mole of vapor – free
actually present to the moles of vapor per mole of vapor
vapor- free gas at saturation.
% saturation yp= (nv/ns) X 100
The percentage saturation is always smaller than the relative saturation.
Dew Point If an unsaturated mixture of vapor and gas is cooled, the relative amounts of the
components and the percentage composition by volume will at first remain unchanged. It
follows that, if the total pressure is constant, the par
partial
tial pressure of the vapor will be
unchanged by the cooling. This will be the case until the temperature is lowered to such a
value that the vapor pressure of the liquid at this temperature is equal to the existing partial
pressure of the vapor in the mixture.
mixture. The mixture will then be saturated, and any further
cooling will result in condensation. The temperature at which the equilibrium vapor
pressure of the liquid is equal to the existing partial pressure of the vapor is termed the dew
point of the mixture.
e. The vapor content of a vapor
vapor-gas
gas mixture may be calculated from
dew-point
point data, or conversely, the dew point may be predicted from the composition of the
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mixture.
Wet – and Dry – Bulb thermometry
When a liquid evaporates into a large volume of gas at the same temperature, if no heat is
supplied from an external source the liquid will be cooled as a result of the heat removed
from it to supply the relatively large demand of the latent heat of vaporization.
vaporization. If the body
of liquid has a large surface area in proportion to its mass, its temperature will quickly drop
to an equilibrium value. This equilibrium temperature which is assumed by the evaporating
liquid will be such that heat will be transferred to it from the warmer gas at a rate which is
just adequate to supply the necessary latent heat for the vaporization. The equilibrium
temperature of a liquid when vaporizing into a gas is termed the wet-bulb temperature
and is always less than the actual dry-bulb temperature of the gas into which evaporation
is taking place. If the gas is saturated there is neither vaporization nor depression of the
wet-bulb
bulb temperature. It is therefore possible to use the depression of the wet bulb
temperature as a measure of the degree of unsaturation of the mixture of gas and vapor.

Psychometric Chart:
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The Humidity Chart is plotted a molal humidity chart covering

covering a range of molal
humidity. Curve A of above Fig,
Fig termed the saturation curve, is a plot of molal humidity
against temperature for any gas which is saturated with water vapor. Curves A' express
similar relationships between
en molal humidity and temperatures
emperatures corresponding to the
specified values of percentage humidity. These curves are all independent of the nature of
the gas under [Link] B are fines of constant wet-bulb
bulb temperature when the
gas is composed of only diatomic components such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide,
hydrogen, air, and the like. One of these curves
curve indicatesthe wet-bulb
bulb temperature of any
mixture whose dry-bulb
bulb temperature and molal humidity determine a point falling on this
curve. By interpolation between these curves it is possible to estimate any one of the
properties of molal humidity, wet-bulb
wet temperature, and dry-bulb
bulb temperature if the other
two are known. It will be noted that where the wet
wet-bulb
bulb temperature fines cross the
saturation curve A the wet-bulb
bulb temperature must be equal to the dry-bulb
dry bulb temperature.
Wet bulb Temperature (WBT) The equilibrium
uilibrium temperature attained by a liquid which is
vaporizing in to a gas is termed us wet bulb temperature.
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Dry Bulb Temperature (DBT): The temperature of the vapor gas mixture recorded by the
immersion of a thermometer in the mixture is termed as dry bu
bulb
lb temperature (wet bulb
temperature is always less than dry bulb temperature.
Psychrometry: The application of wet and dry bulb thermometry is termed as psychmerty
or hygrometry.
Humidity Charts: (Molal Humidity Vs DBT Vs WBT Vs ) humidity charts are useful
for the rapid solution to the problems of vaporization, condensation and air conditioning
where the process occurs substantially at constant atmospheric pressure.

Summary
Discussed about the humidity and its terminology.
terminology How to use Psychometric Chart and find
the terms to humidity.

Solved Problems
01 Ethyl ether at a temperature of 20°C exerts a vapor pressure of 442 mm of Hg.
Calculate the composition of a saturated mixture of nitrogen and ether vapor at a
temperature of 20°C and a pressure of"745 mm of Hg expressed in the following
terms:
(a) Percentage composition by weight.
(b)) Pounds of vapor per cubic foot of mixture.
(c) Pounds of vapor per pound of vapor-free
vapor gas.
(d) Pound-moles
moles of vapor pej pound-mole of vapor-free gas.
(Ans) Basis:1.0 lb-mole
mole of the mixture.
Vapor present = 0.593 lb-mole
lb or 43.9 lb
Nitrogen present = 0.407 lb
lb-mole or 11.4 lb
Total mixture = 55.3 lb
Composition by weight:
Ether vapor 79.4%
Nitrogen 20.6%
Volume = 359 X(760/745)X (298/273)= 393 cu ft
Weight of ether per cubic foot = 43.9/11.4
= 0.112 lb
This result is independent of the total pressure. For example, an increase in the total
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pressure would decrease the vol

volume
ume per mole of mixture but would correspondingly
decrease the weight of vapor per mole of mixture.
Weight of vapor per pound nitrogen =43.9/11.4
= 3.85 lb
Moles of vapor per mole of nitrogen =0.593/0.407
= 1.455

02 A mixture of acetone vapor and nitrogen contains 14.8% acetone by volume.

Calculate the relative saturation and the percentage saturation of the mixture at a
temperature off 20''C and a pressure of 745 mm of Hg.
The vapor pressure of acetone at 20°C is 184.8 mm of Hg
(Ans) Basis: 1.0 lb-mole
mole of mixture.
Partial pressure of acetone = 0.148 X 745 110.0 mm of Hg
Relative saturation = 110/184.8 = 59.7%
Acetone 0.148 lb-mole
Nitrogen 0.852 lb-mole
Moles of acetone per mole of nitrogen = 0.148/0.852 0.174
Percentage by volume of acetone = 184.8/745 24.8%
Lb-moles
moles of acetone = 0.248
Lb-moles
moles of nitrogen = 0.752
Moles of acetone per mole of nitrogen = 0.248/0.752 0.329
Percentage saturation = 0.174/0.329 52.9%
3 Moist air is found to contain 8.1 grains of water vapor per cubic foot at a
temperature of 30°C. Calculate the temperature to which it must be heated in order
that its relative saturation shall be 15%.
(Ans) Basis:11 cu ft of moist air.
Water = 8.1/7000 = 1.16 X 10-3lb or 6.42 X 10--4lb-mole
ume of water vapor = 6.42 X 10-4X 359
Pure-component volume
= 0.0230 cu ft at S.C.
Partial pressure of water vapor = 760 X (0.0230/1)X (303/273)
= 19.4 mm of Hg
Vapor pressure of water at temperature
te corresponding
ing to 15% relative saturation
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= 19.4/0.15
=130 mm of Hg

4 A mixture of benzene vapor and air contains 10.1% benzene by volume.

(a) Calculate the dew point of the mixture when at a temperature of 25°C and a
pressure of 760 mm of Hg.
(b) Calculate the dew point when the mixture is at a temperature of 30°C and a
pressure of 750 mm of Hg.
(c) Calculate the dew point when the mixture is at a temperature of 30°C and a
pressure of 700 mm of Hg.
(Ans) Partial pressure of benzene = 0.101 X 750 = 75.7 mm Hg
From the vapor pressure data for benzene, Fig. 4, it is found that this pressure
corresponds to a temperature of 20.0°C, the dew point.
(b) Partial pressure of benzene 75.7 mm
Dew point 20.0°C
(c) Partial pressure of benzene = 0.101 X 700 70.7 mm Hg
The temperature corresponding to a vapor pressure of 70.7 mm of Hg is found to be
18.7°C. From these results it is seen that the dew point does not depend on the
temperature but does vary with the total pressure.

5 Air at a temperature of 20 "C and a pressure of 750 mm of Hg has a relative

humidity of 80%.
(a) Calculate the molal humidity of the air.
(b) Calculate the molal humidity of this air if its temperature is reduced to 10°C and
its pressure increased to 35 lb per sq in., condensing out some of the water.
(c) Calculate the weight of water condensed from 1000 cu ft of the original wet air
in cooling and compressing to the conditions of part (b).
(d) Calculate the final volume of the wet air of part (c).
Vapor pressure of water:
17.5 mm of Hg at 20°C.
9.2 mm of Hg at 10°C

(Ans) Basis:Initial
Initial partial pressure of water = 0.80 X 17.5
= 14.0 mm of Hg
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(a) Initial molal humidity = (14)/(750 -14)

=0.0190
(b)Final
Final partial pressure of water = 9.2 mm of Hg
Final total pressure = 36 X 760/14.7
=1810
1810 mm of Hg
Final molal humidity = 9.2/(1810-9.2)
9.2/(1810
=0.0051
0.0051
Basis: 1000 cu ft of original wet air.
(b) Partial pressure of dry air = 750 -14
= 736 mm of Hg
Partial volume of dry air at S.C. = 1000 X 736/760 X 273/293 = 903 cu ft
Moles of dry air = 903/359
=2.52 Ib
Ib-molea
Water originally
nally present = 2.52 X 0.0190
=0.0478 lb
lb-mole
Water finally present = 2.52 X 0.0051
=0.0128
Water condensed = 0.0360 lb
lb-mole or 0.630 lb
(c) Total wet air finally present = 2.52 + 0.01
0.0128
=2.53 Ib-moIes
Final volume of wet air = 2.63 X 369 X (760/1810) X (283/273)
= 396 cu ft
6 It is proposed to recover Acetone which used as solvent in a extraction process by
evaporation into a stream of N2. The Nitrogen enters the evaporator at a temperature
30oC containing acetone its dew point 10oC. It leaves at a temperature at a dew
point 10oC. The barometric pressure is constant at 760 mm of Hg.
a. Calculate vapor concentration of gases entering and leaving the evaporator
expressed in moles of vapor(moles of vapor free gas)
b. Calculate the moles of acetone evaporated per mole of vaporization gas
passing through the evaporator
acetone evaporator per 100ft3 of gases entering the
c. Calculate the rate of acet
evaporator
d. Calculate the volume of gases leaving the evaporator per 100ft3 of entering
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Ans Basis:
V.P : 116 mm of Hg.: P.P
P.P of N2: 750 -116
= 634 mm of Hg

Molal Humidity = p vapour/(ptot – p vapour )

= 116/(750 -116)
= 0.183

V.P :P.P = 185 mm of Hg

P.P : 565 mm of Hg
Mass Humidity = 185 / 565
= 0.37
Acetone Vapor : 0.327 – 0.183
: 0.144
144 lb mol
P1: 750 P2:760
V1: ? V2:359
n1 : 1.183 n2:1
T1 : 303 T2:273
3
V1: 474.26 ft
Wt. of acetone: 0.145 X 58
: 8.35 lb
474.6 ft3 --------------- 8.35 lb
1000 ft3 ---------------??
= 8.35 X 1000/ 477.4
= 17.48 lb

P1: 750 P2: 760

V1: ?? V2: 359
n1: 298 n2: 1
T1:303 T2: 273
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V1: 526 ft3

474.4 --------------- 526.4ft3

1000---------------??
= 1111.6

7 At 26.42 in of Hg the dry bulb temperature of air is 150oF and its wet bulb
temperature is 120oF. Obtain correct humidity from the charts?
Ans Basis:
Humidity : 0.074
Molal humidity : 0.118
Relative = 0.074/0.15
= 0.43
Dew point : 116oF
8 A mixture of dry flue gases and acetone at a pressure of 750 mm of Hg and a
temperature of 30°C has a dew point of 25°C. It is proposed to condense 90% of the
acetone in this mixture by cooling to 5°C and compressing. Calculate the necessary
pressure in pounds
nds per square inch.
Vapor pressure of acetone:
at 30°C = 282.7 mm of Hg
at 25°C = 229.2 mm of Hg
at 5°C = 89.1 mm of Hg
Ans Basis: 1.0 lb-mole
mole of original mixture.
Partial pressure of acetone 229.2 mm of Hg
Acetone present = 229.2/750
=0.306 lb
lb-mole
Flue gases present 0.694 lb-mole
lb
Acetone present in final mixture = 0.10 X 0.306
= 0.0306 lb-mole
Final mixture of gas = 0.694 + 0.0306
= 0.725 lb
lb-mole
Partial pressure of acetone in final mixture 89.1 mm
(the vapor pressure at 5°C)
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Mole percentage of acetone in final mixture = 0.0306/0.725

= 4.22%
Final pressure = 89.1/0.0422
= 2110 mm of Hg
= 40.8 lb per sq in.
9 l o’F and atmospheric pressure has a wet-bulb
Air at a temperature of l00 bulb temperature
of 85°F.
(a) Estimate the molal humidity, the percentage saturation, and the dew point of this
air.
(b)) The air of part (a) is passed into an evaporator from which it emerges at a
temperature of 12(>°F with a wet-bulb
wet bulb temperature of 115.3°F. Estimate the
percentage saturation of the air leaving th
thee evaporator and calculate the weight of
water evaporated per 1000 cu ft of entering air.
Ans The abscissa representing 100°F is located chart and followed vertically to its
intersection with the 85°F wet
wet-bulb
bulb temperature line. This point represents the
initial
nitial conditions of the air. The percentage saturation is estimated from the position
of this point with respect to the curves corresponding to various degrees of
saturation. This value would be estimated to be about 52%. The molal humidity is
read from the
he scale of ordinates as 0.037. The dew point is determined by following
a horizontal line to its intersection with the saturation curve. The abscissa of this
point of intersection is 80.5°F, the dew point.
(b) In the manner described above the percentage saturation of the air leaving the
evaporator is estimated to be 84% and its molal humidity 0.110.
Basis: 1.0 lb-mole
mole of moisture-free
moisture air.
Moles of wet air entering = 1.0 + 0.037
= 1.037 lb-moles
Volume of wet air entering = 1.037 X 359 X 560/ 492 cu ft
= 424cuft
Water evaporated = 0.110 - 0.037
= 0.073 lb
lb-mole
= 1.31 lb
Water evaporated per 1000 cu ft of entering wet air =1.31 X 1000/424
= 3.1 lb
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10 Air enters a dryer at atmospheric pressure, a dry

dry-bulb
bulb temperature of 190°F, and a
wet-bulb
bulb temperature of 90°F. It is found that 0.028 lb-mole
mole of water is evaporated
in the dryer per pound-mole
mole of dry air entering it. Assuming that the vaporization is
adiabatic, estimate the dry-bulb
dry temperature, the wet-bulb
bulb temperature, and the
percentage saturation of the air leaving the dryer.
Ans From Humdity chart
It is found that a dry-bulb
bulb temperature of 190° and a wetbulb temperature of 90°
correspond to a molal humidity of 0.011.
Molal humidity of air leaving = 0.011 + 0.028
= 0.039.
If the process is adiabatic the wet
wet-bulb temperature will remain constant at 90°F.
A wet-bulb
bulb temperature of 90° and a molal humidity of 0.039 correspond to a
drybulbtemperature of 116°F, the temperature of the air leaving the dryer. The
percentagesaturation is estimated as 35%.

Multiple Choice Questions

01 A chart showing the humidity versus temperature along with all the other properties of
moist air is called
a) Relative humidity chart
b) Psychrometric chart
c) Air vapour phase chart
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (b)
02 The representation on the humidity chart of the energy balance in which the heat
transfer to water from the air is assumed to equal the enthalpy of vaporization of liquid
water is Wet Bulb Line.
The above given statement is
a) True
b) False
c) Not defined well
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (a)
03 The humidity chart is formally known as the psychometric chart. The statement is
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a) True
b) False
c) Not defined well
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (a)
04 Psychometric chart is plotted between the parameters
a) Humidity and temperature
b) Humidity and pressure
c) Humidity and volume of the dry air
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (a)
05 The idea of wet bulb temperature is based on the equilibrium between the rates of
energy transfer to the ______ and the evaporation of ______
a) Water and vapour
b) Bulb, water
c) Bulb and vapour
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (b)
06 The ratio of partial pressure of the vapor in the gas mixture and the vapor pressure of
the vapor component is called
a) Relative Humidity
b) Humidity
c) Dry air pressure
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (a)
07 Announcement is made on radio that the temperature is 25 degree Celsius and the
relative humidity is 65%.
What is the value of p(H2O)/p*(H2O)?
a) 0.45
b) 0.65
c) 0.85
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (b)
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08 Announcement is made on radio that the temperature is 25 degree Celsius and the
relative humidity is 65%.
Measurements of p(H2O) & p*(H2O) have been made at 25 degree celsius.
The above given statement is
a) Incorrect
b) Correct
c) Depends on other conditions as well
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (b)
09 Zero percent relative saturation means
a) 100 % vapour in the air
b) 75% vapour in the air
c) 50% vapour in the air
d) No vapour in the air
Answer (d)
10 When the partial pressure of the vapour in the gas is same as the vapour pressure of the
substance. What is the relative saturation?
a) 0%
b) 50%
c) 100%
d) None of the mentioned
Answer (c)

Descriptive Questions
01 Write briefly Humidity and its terminology?
02 Write about psychometric chart?

Unsolved Problems
01 (a) Calculate the composition, by volume and by weight, of air which is saturated
with water vapor at a pressure of 750mm of Hg and a temperature of 70°F.
(b) Calculate the composition by volume and by weight of carbon dioxide which is
saturated with water vapor at the conditions of part(a)
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02 Nitrogen is saturated with benzene vapor at a temperature of 25°C and a pressureof

750 mm of Hg. Calculate the composition of the mixture, expressed in them
following terms:
(a) Percentage by volume.
(b) Percentage by weight.
(c) Grains of benzene per cubic foot of mixture.
(d) Pounds of benzene per pound of nitrogen.
(e) Pound-moles
moles of benzene per pound
pound-mole of nitrogen
03 Carbon dioxide contains 0.053 pound-mole of water vapor per pound-mole
mole of dry
CO2 at a temperature of 35°C and a total pressure of 750 mm of Hg.
(a) Calculate the relative saturation of the mixture.
(b) Calculate the percentage saturation of the mixture.
(c) Calculate the temperature to which the mixture must be heated in order that the
relative saturation shall be 30%.
04 A mixture of benzene and air at a temperature of 24°C and a pressure of 745 mm of
Hg is found to have a dew point of 11 °C. ,
(a) Calculate the percentage by volume of benzene.
(6) Calculate the moles of benzene per mole of air.
(c) Calculate the weight of benzene per unit weight of air.
05 A combustion gas has the following composition:CO2 12.1% CO 0.1% O2 7.6% N2
80.2%
(a) Estimate the wet-bulb
bulb temperature of this gas when moisture-free
free at a temperature
of 200°F and atmospheric pressure.
(b) If the combustion gas has a dry-bulb
dry temperature of 140°F and a wet-bulb
bulb
temperature of 9S°F estimate its molal humidity.

Video links
01

References
01 O.A Hougen, K.M. Watson, R.A. Ragataz,
Ragataz “Chemical
Chemical Process Principles Part I
Material and Energy Balances”,
Balances Second Edition, CBS Publishers, 2001.
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