Page 3 - Dry air for safe process design
P. 3

Humidity, brief and dry.





       Depending on the temperature of the air, only a limit-
       ed amount of water can be absorbed. The rule is that
       warm air can absorb more water than cold air. The
       absolute humidity x is given in mass of water per
       amount of dry air.

       The liquid content of the air, from which no more liquid
       can be absorbed at a certain air temperature, is called
       saturation, and corresponds to a relative humidity of
       100 % (see temperature-humidity diagram below).

       Since each temperature along the saturation line can
       be assigned an absolute moisture value, the satura-
       tion or dew point temperature can also be specified   Moisture denotes the content of liquid, e.  g.
       for an explicit description of the liquid content. This is   water, in a substance or gas. In industrial
       particularly advantageous when the moisture content   practice, it is mostly about the water content
       is low (e. g. < 1 g/kg).                            of the process air or a product.









       Temperature-humidity diagram





        Water content  30 g/kg                                                         100 % relative  34,4 g/m 3  Absolute moisture

                                                                                       humidity
          25 g/kg                                                                      (saturation)  28,7 g/m 3

                                                               No further water
                                                               absorption possible
          20 g/kg                                                                                   23,0 g/m 3



                                                Cooling leads to con-
          15 g/kg                               densation of water as                               17,2 g/m 3
                                                drops or mist                          50 % relative
                                                                                       humidity

          10 g/kg                                                                                   11,5 g/m 3

                 If the water content is less
                 than 1 g/kg, only the dew                               Heating or drying
                 point temperature is an                                 lead to a lower
           5 g/kg  illustrative moisture value                           relative humidity          5,7 g/m 3




           0 g/kg                                                                                   0,0 g/m 3
                –20 °C        –10 °C        0 °C          10 °C         20 °C        30 °C
                                                 Air or dew point temperature





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