CONTINOUS HUMIDIFICATION PROCESSES

Water-cooling tower packed tower

evaporation of warm water when in contact with unsaturated air

latent heat of vaporisation given off cools water

water can be cooled only to wet bulb temperature

only small amount of water is lost
Water-cooling tower
 Water-cooling tower packed tower

warm water flows counter-currently to an air stream

air flows upward
warm water cascades down
Natural draft water cooler or forced draft water cooler
adiabatic
water can be discharged to the river or recirculated and reused
Natural draft water cooler
Natural draft water cooler
 CONTINOUS HUMIDIFICATION
PROCESSES

Humidification
Transfer of water from the liquid phase into a gaseous mixture of
air & water vapour
Air &water vapour

water

Dehumidification
Water vapour is transferred from the vapour state to the liquid state
 Humidity Chart
Properties of air-water vapour mixtures at 1 atm abs pressure
Humidity vs dry bulb temperature
Wet bulb temp. =20oC, dry bulb temp. = 30oC,humidity = ?
Dew point =10oC, humidity = ?

Humidity
0.0115

0.0085
 Humidity chart

Figure 9.3-2 Humidity Chart

 Theory and calculations for water-cooling towers
where:
L= water flowrate (kg/s.m2)
TL = water temperature (oC)
G = dry air flowrate (kg/s.m2)
H = humidity of air (kg water/kg dry air)
Hy = entahlpy of air-vapour mixture(J/kg dry air)
kGa = gas-phase volumetric coefficient (kmol/s.m3.Pa)
MB = molecular weight of air
P = atmospheric pressure (Pa)
z= height of tower (m)
Using film mass-transfer coefficient Using overall mass transfer coefficient
Hy2 Hy2
G dHy G dHy
z=
MBkGaP Hyi-Hy
z=
MBKGaP Hy*-Hy
Hy1 Hy1
 Design of water-cooling tower using
Procedure: film mass-transfer coefficient
1. Determine H1 from the humidity chart given TG1 & Tw
2. Determine Hy1 from Hy1 = (1.005 + 1.88H1)103(TG1-0) + 2.501 x 106H1
3. Calculate Hy2 from G(Hy2-Hy1) = LcL(TL2-TL1) where cL = 4.187 x 103 J/kg.K
4. Plot the equilibrium line (table 10.5-1) on the Hy vs TL graph
5. Draw the operating-line with the point (TL1,Hy1) and (TL2,Hy2) on the graph
Design of water-cooling tower using film mass-transfer coefficient
h a
6. Plot several lines with slope = - L where hLa = liquid-phase
M k aP
volumetric heat transfer coefficient B G

7. Obtain several values of Hyi with the corresponding Hy. Tabulate values
of Hyi, Hy, (Hyi-Hy) and 1/(Hyi-Hy) Hy2
dHy
8. Plot 1/(Hyi-Hy) vs Hy from Hy1 to Hy2. Area under the curve =
Hy2 Hyi-Hy
G dHy Hy1
MBkGaP Hyi-Hy
9. Calculate z from z =
H
y1
 Design of water-cooling tower using
Procedure: overall mass-transfer coefficient
1. Determine H1 from the humidity chart given TG1 & Tw
2. Determine Hy1 from Hy1 = (1.005 + 1.88H1)103(TG1-0) + 2.501 x 106H1
3. Calculate Hy2 from G(Hy2-Hy1) = LcL(TL2-TL1) where cL = 4.187 x 103 J/kg.K
4. Plot the equilibrium line (table 10.5-1) on the Hy vs TL graph
5. Draw the operating-line with the point (TL1,Hy1) and (TL2,Hy2) on the graph
Design of water-cooling tower using overall mass-transfer
coefficient
6. Plot several vertical lines

7. Obtain several values of Hy* with the corresponding Hy. Tabulate values
of Hy*, Hy, (Hy*-Hy) and 1/(Hy*-Hy) Hy2
dHy

8. Plot 1/(Hy*-Hy) vs Hy from Hy1 to Hy2. Area under the curve =
Hy*-Hy
Hy2 H
G dHy y1

MBKGaP Hy*-Hy
9. Calculate z from z =
H
y1
 Example 10.5-1:Tower Design Using Film Coefficient
L = 1.356 kg water/s.m2
TL2=43.3oC

G=1.356 kg dry air/s.m2

TL1 = 29.4oC
TG1=29.4oC
Tw = 23.9oC

Given: kGa = 1.207 x 10-7 kgmol/s.m3.Pa & hLa/kGaMBP = 4.187x104 J/kg.K

1. Determine H1 from the humidity chart given TG1 & Tw
 Example 10.5-1:
At TG1=29.4oC & Tw = 23.9oC, H1 = ?

Humidity
0.0165

2. Determine Hy1 from Hy1 = (1.005 + 1.88H1)103(TG1-0) + 2.501 x 106H1

Hy1 = (1.005 + 1.88[0.0165])103(29.4-0) + 2.501 x 106(0.0165) = 7.17 x 103 J/kg
Example 10.5-1:
L = 1.356 kg water/s.m2
TL2=43.3oC

G=1.356 kg dry air/s.m2

TL1 = 29.4oC
Hy1=7.17 x 103 J/kg dry air

3. Calculate Hy2 from G(Hy2-Hy1) = LcL(TL2-TL1) where cL = 4.187 x 103 J/kg.K

1.356 (Hy2-7.17 x 103) = 1.356 (4.187 x 103)(43.3-29.4)
Hy2 = 129.9 x 103 J/kg dry air
Example 10.5-1:
G=1.356 kg dry air/s.m2 L = 1.356 kg water/s.m2
Hy2=129.9 x 103 J/kg dry air TL2=43.3oC
Hy1=7.17 x 103 J/kg dry air TL1 = 29.4oC
4. Plot the equilibrium line (table 10.5-1) on the Hy vs TL graph
5. Draw the operating-line with the point (TL1,Hy1) and (TL2,Hy2) on the graph
Example 10.5-1: hLa
6. Plot several lines with slope = - =-4.187 x 104 J/kg.K
MBkGaP
Taking a point ,for example, Hy2 = 129.9 x 103 J/kg dry air & TL2 = 43.3oC
4 Hy Hy2-Hy 129.9 x 103-Hy
slope = -4.187 x 10 J/kg.K = = =
TL TL2-TL 43.3-TL
o 4 129.9 x 10 3-H 129.9 x 103-Hy
Lets TL = 42 C, -4.187 x 10 = y =
43.3-42 1.3

184.3 Hy = 184.3 x 103 J/kg dry air

Example 10.5-1:
7. Obtain several values of Hyi with the corresponding Hy. Tabulate values
of Hyi, Hy, (Hyi-Hy) and 1/(Hyi-Hy)

184.7

162.1

141.8
129.9
124.4

106.5108.4
94.9 94.4
83.5
71.7
Example 10.5-1: Hy2
dHy
8. Plot 1/(Hyi-Hy) vs Hyfrom Hy1 to Hy2. Area under the curve = Hyi-Hy
Hy1
Hyi Hy Hyi-Hy 1/(Hyi-Hy)
94.4 x 103 71.7 x 103 22.7 x 103 4.41 x 10-5
108.4 x 103 83.5 x 103 24.9 x 103 4.02 x 10-5
124.4 x 103 94.9 x 103 29.5 x 103 3.39 x 10-5
141.8 x 103 106.5 x 103 35.3 x 103 2.83 x 10-5
162.1 x 103 118.4 x 103 43.7 x 103 2.29 x 10-5
184.7 x 103 129.9 x 103 54.8 x 103 1.82 x 10-5

Hy2
dHy
Area under the curve =
H = 1.82
1/(Hyi-Hy)

y1 Hyi-Hy

Hy1 Hy2
Hy
 Example 10.5-1: L = 1.356 kg water/s.m2
TL2=43.3oC

P = 1.013 x 105 Pa z

G=1.356 kg dry air/s.m2

TL1 = 29.4oC
TG1=29.4oC
Tw = 23.9oC
Given: kGa = 1.207 x 10-7 kgmol/s.m3.Pa & hLa/kGaMBP = 4.187x104 J/kg.K
Hy2
G dHy
MBkGaP Hyi-Hy
9. Calculate z from z =
Hy1
z = 1.356 kg kmol s m2 Pa m (1.82) = 6.98 m
s m2 29 kg 1.207x10-7kmol 1.013 x 105Pa
Tower Design Using Overall Mass
Transfer Coefficient
Problem 10.5-2(b): It is planned to cool
water from 110oF to 85oF in a packed
countercurrent water cooling tower using
entering air at 85oF with a wet bulb
temperature of 75oF. The water flow is
2000lbm/h.ft2 and the air flow is 1400
lbm/h.ft2. The overall mass transfer
coefficient is KGa=6.90 lbmol/h.ft3.atm.
Calculate the tower height needed.
 Minimum value of air flow, Gmin
Procedure:
1. Plot the equilibrium line on the Hy vs TL graph
2. From point M (TL1,Hy1), draw a straight line to intercept the equilibrium
line at TL2, point N
3. Obtain the value of Hy2 max.
4. Calculate Gmin from Gmin(Hy2 max-Hy1) = LcL(TL2-TL1) where cL = 4.187 x 103
J/kg.K
Hy2max
5. G = 1.3-1.5Gmin
 Problem 10.5-2(a): It is planned to cool water
from 110oF to 85oF in a packed
countercurrent water cooling tower using
entering air at 85oF with a wet bulb
temperature of 75oF. The water flow is
2000lbm/h.ft2 and the air flow is 1400
lbm/h.ft2. The overall mass transfer
coefficient is KGa=6.90 lbmol/h.ft3.atm.
Calculate the minimum air rate that can be
used.
 Design of water-cooling tower using
height of transfer unit
Hy2 Hy2
G dHy dHy
z=
MBkGaP Hyi-Hy
= HG Hyi-Hy
Hy1 Hy1

where HG = height of a gas enthalpy transfer unit (m)

Hy2 Hy2
dHy dHy
G
z=
MBKGaP Hy*-Hy
= HOG Hy*-Hy
Hy1 Hy1

where HOG = height of an overall gas enthalpy transfer unit (m)

z = HGNG = HOGNOG
Hy2
dHy
where NG = number of transfer units = Hyi-Hy
Hy1
Hy2
dHy
NOG = number of overall transfer units = Hy*-Hy
Hy1
 Problem 10.5-1:A forced-draft countercurrent
water-cooling tower is to cool water from
43.3oC to 26.7oC. The air enters the bottom
of the tower at 23.9oC with a wet bulb
temperature of 21.1oC.The value of HG for the
flow conditions is HG=0.533 m. The heat
transfer resistance in the liquid phase will be
neglected; since hL is very large. Hence,
values of Hy* should be used. Calculate the
tower height needed if 1.5 times the minimum
air rate is used.
Ans: z=1.70 m
 Dehumidification tower
Humidification/ cooling tower
Operating line lies below the equilibrium line
Water is cooled & air humidified

Dehumidification tower

Operating line lies above the equilibrium line

humidity & temperature of air reduced
GROUP 1 (Report and presentation):
Question
1.Explain about the theory of humidification?
2.The applications of humidification process
3.How to design the water cooling tower?
4.Solve the given problem

Use power point for your presentation.

Group 1:
 PROBLEM-Group 1
You are to design a cooling tower
A cooling tower receives warm water at 43oC at a
mass flow rate of 7000 kg/m2.hr. A cooling range
of 13oC is to be achieved by countercurrent
contact with air. The air enters at a rate of 4200
kg/m2.hr at a dry-bulb temperature of 31oC and a
humidity of 0.01520kg/kg dry air. Given that
MBKGaP = 2500 kg/h.m3, where KGa is the overall
mass-transfer coefficient.
Determine:
(i)The number of overall gas-phase transfer units
(NTU)
(ii)The height of packing needed (Z)