MASS TRANSFER OPERATIONS-II

Course code: CH 3113

L-T-P: 3-0-0

Instructor: Dr. Pradip Chowdhury

Lecture 03

August 27, 2021

Wet Bulb Temperature (Tw)

Definition of Wet Bulb Temperature:

Wet bulb temperature is the STEADY STATE, NON-Equilibrium temperature reached by a small mass
of LIQUID immersed under ADIABATIC condition in a CONTINUOUS stream of GAS.

IT is a FUNCTION of Inlet GAS Temperature (T) and Gas Humidity (H).

IT is INDEPENDENT of GAS flow OR GAS Velocity.

HOW DOES Wet Bulb Temperature (TW) Fundamentally differs from Adiabatic Saturation
Temperature (TA)??
 Fundamental Differences

 The Gas Temperature and Humidity VARY during adiabatic saturation

 The End point in adiabatic saturator is a true Equilibrium whereas Wet bulb temperature
condition is a dynamic steady-state.
Derivation #01
Let us carry out a heat balance around the wick/wet
bulb of the thermometer.

The datum or the reference temperature is Tw

The amount of heat lost by vaporization per unit area from the wet Gas flow In: T, H
bulb:

(1)
Gas flow Out: T, H
[(kg H2O/kmol H2O)× (kmol H2O/m .sec) ×(kJ/kg H2O)×m ]
2 2

Thus, ; kJ/sec

Now,
(2)

- Mass Transfer Coefficient [when mole fraction as the driving force], kmol/m 2.sec; - Mole fraction
of water vapor at the surface; Mole fraction of water vapor in the bulk-gas; -Log-mean mole fraction
Continued..
The relationship between humidity (H) and mole fraction
(y):
𝑀𝐴 𝑝𝐴
𝐻= ×
𝑀 𝐵 𝑃 − 𝑝𝐴

𝑀 𝑝𝐴 Gas flow In: T, H

𝐻= 𝐴 × ⇒ 𝑀 𝐴 𝑦𝑃 + 𝐻 𝑀 𝐵 𝑦 𝑃 =𝐻 𝑀 𝐵
𝑀𝐵 1− 𝑝𝐴
For P=1 atm ⇒ 𝑀 𝐴 𝑦 + 𝐻 𝑀 𝐵 𝑦 =𝐻 𝑀 𝐵
𝐻 𝑀𝐵 𝐻 𝑀𝐵 Gas flow Out: T, H
⇒ 𝑦=
⇒ 𝑦=

Since humidity is
𝑀 𝐴+ 𝐻 𝑀 𝐵
{
𝑀 𝐴 1+
𝐻 𝑀𝐵
𝑀𝐴 }
small, 𝑀 𝐴> 𝐻 𝑀 𝐵
Thus,
(3)

Substituting Eq. 3 in Eq. 2 we get,

(4)
Continued..
Equation 1 implies (by replacing term),

(
𝑞=𝑀 𝐴 𝐴 𝜆 𝜔 𝑘𝑦 𝑦 𝜔 −
𝐻𝑀𝐵
𝑀𝐴 )
𝑘 Gas flow In: T, H
⇒𝑞=𝑀 𝐴 𝐴 𝜆𝜔 𝑦 ( 𝑦 𝜔 𝑀 𝐴 − 𝐻 𝑀 𝐵 )
𝑀𝐴

Finally, (5)
Gas flow Out: T, H

Now, 𝑦 𝜔 𝑀 𝐴≈ 𝐻 𝜔 𝑀 𝐵

Again, 𝑞= 𝐴 𝜆𝜔 𝑘 𝑦 ( 𝐻 𝜔 𝑀 𝐵 − 𝐻 𝑀 𝐵 )

(6)
Continued..
The rate of heat transfer (Convective) from the gas stream
@T to the wet cloth/wick @ Tw ,

(7)
Gas flow In: T, H
Equating Eqn. 6 & 7 we get,

(8) Gas flow Out: T, H

(9)
h /(𝑀 ¿ ¿ 𝐵 ¿ 𝑘𝑦 )¿¿ The value is
approximately
0.96~1.005
(10) Psychrometric Ratio for Water vapor-Air
system

(𝐻−
Expression for Adiabatic saturation line,𝐻 𝑠
𝑇 −𝑇 𝑠 ) 𝑐
=− 𝑠 =−
𝜆𝑠
1.005+1 ⋅ 88 𝐻
𝜆𝑠
Continued..
The expression for Humid heat,

=1.005+1.88H
Humidity is a small number, thus,

Humid heat, ≈1.005 ≈ h/(𝑀 ¿ ¿𝐵 ¿ 𝑘𝑦 )¿¿

Lewis Relation.

When holds, Adiabatic Saturation Line essentially becomes Wet Bulb

Temperature Line.
Numerical #02
Ex. 2: Determine the following psychrometric properties of a moist air sample having a dry-bulb
temperature 27oC and a humidity of 0.015 kg H2O/kg dry air.
(a) Relative humidity (b) dew point (c) adiabatic saturation temperature (d) wet bulb temperature (e)
humid heat (f) enthalpy
Antoine’s equation , is in bar, is in Kelvin.
Solution: Vapor pressure of water @27 oC (~300 K), =0.0357 bar (Total pressure=1.013 bar)
(a) Humidity, H= => =0.02385 bar
Relative humidity, HR= =66.8%
(b) At dew point, the air will just be saturated. Thus, partial pressure of vapor=vapor pressure of the
liquid. Here, =0.02385 bar. Put the value in the Antoine’s equation, T=293.5 K or 20.3 oC.
(c) Humid heat, = = 1.033 kJ/kg.oC
(d) Adiabatic saturation temperature, =22.5 oC
(e) Enthalpy, H´= =1.003(27-0)+(2500×0.015)=65.6 kJ/kg
Psychrometric Chart

Image source:
Binay K. Dutta, “Principles
of Mass Transfer and
Separation Processes”