01 Properties of Steam
01 Properties of Steam
01 Properties of Steam
Properties of Steam
PROPERTIES OF STEAM
Steam:
Application of steam
The action of heat in the formation of steam from water is illustrated in the Fig.1.2 shown
below. As the steam is continuously generated, its pressure gradually increases and is
supplied from the boilers to the engines or turbines at constant pressure. To know the values
of the various properties of steam at a particular pressure, a steam generation experiment is
conducted by heating the water from 0oC at a given constant pressure. Since the steam is
generated at constant pressure, the amount of heat energy supplied to convert the water into
steam will be equal to its enthalpy.
Fig. 1.2 (A) Fig. 1.2 (B) Fig. 1.2 (C) Fig. 1.2 (D) Fig. 1.2 (E)
When this water is heated at constant pressure, its temperature rises till the boiling point is
reached. When the boiling point of water is reached there will be a slight increase in the
volume of water as shown in Fig. 1.2 (B). The temperature at which the water boils depends
on the pressure acting on it. This temperature is called as saturation temperature and denoted
as “Ts”.
Saturation temperature: It is defined as the temperature at which the water begins to boil at
the stated pressure “P”. The boiling temperature of the water increases with the increase of
pressure at which the water is heated.
Temperature
Tsup D
Degree of Superheat
B C
Ts
A Enthalpy
hf hfg
Sensible Latent Heat
Amount of
Heat
Superheat
It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water from 0 0 C to the
saturation temperature Tsat °C at a given constant pressure “P”.. The sensible heat is also
called as the heat of the liquid or the enthalpy of the liquid.
Further addition of heat, initiates the evaporation of water while the temperature remains at
the saturation temperature Tsat because the water will be saturated with heat and any further
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Properties of Steam
addition of heat changes only the phase from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase. This
evaporation will be continued at the same saturation temperature Tsat until the whole of the
water is completely converted into steam as shown in Fig. 1.2(D). This constant pressure and
constant temperature heat addition process is represented by the horizontal line BC on the
graph.
h = m x C x T kJ/kg
f p sat
= 4.1868 kJ/kg0K
On heating the steam further at the same constant pressure, increases its temperature above
the saturation temperature Tsat. The temperature of the steam above the saturation temperature
at a given pressure is called superheated temperature. During this process of heating, the dry
steam will be heated from its dry state, and this process of heating is called superheating. The
steam when superheated ca1led superheated steam. This superheating is represented by the
inclined line CD on the graph.
It is the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of dry steam from its saturation
temperature to any desired higher temperature at the given constant pressure “P”. The
difference between the superheated temperature and the saturation temperature is defined as
degree of superheat.
1. At a given pressure, the superheated steam possess more heat energy compared to dry
saturated steam or wet steam at the same pressure, hence its capacity to do the work will
be higher.
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Properties of Steam
2. When superheating is done by the exhausting combustion gases in a boiler, there will be a
saving of the energy of combustion which improves the thermal efficiency of the boiler.
3. While expanding in a steam turbine it reduces and in extreme cases prevents the
condensation, thus giving better economy.
Wet Steam:
When the water is heated beyond the saturation state at constant pressure it starts evaporating.
A wet steam is defined as a two-phase mixture of entrained water molecules and steam in
thermal equilibrium at the saturation temperature corresponding to a given constant
pressure.
The quality of the wet steam is specified by the dryness fraction which indicates the amount
of dry steam present in the given quantity of wet steam and is denoted as “x”.
The dryness fraction of a steam is defined as the ratio of mass of the actual dry steam present
in a known quantity of wet steam to the total mass of the wet steam.
Let mg = Mass of dry steam present in the sample quantity of wet steam
mf = Mass of suspended water molecules in the sample quantity of wet steam
mg
x=
m f + mg
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Properties of Steam
Steam which is in contact with water from which it has been formed will be in thermal
equilibrium with the water (i.e., the heat passing from steam into the water is balanced by the
equal quantity of heat passing from the water into the steam) is said to be a saturated steam.
A saturated steam at the saturation temperature corresponding to a given pressure and
having no water molecules entrained in it is defined as dry saturated steam or simply dry
steam. Since the dry saturated steam does not contain any water molecules in it, its dryness
fraction will be unity.
Superheated Steam:
When a dry saturated steam is heated further at the given constant pressure, its temperature
rises beyond its saturation temperature. The steam in this state is said to be superheated.
A superheated steam is defined as the steam which is heated beyond its dry saturated state to
temperatures higher than its saturated temperature at the given pressure.
The enthalpy of dry saturated steam is defined as the total amount of heat supplied at a given
constant pressure to convert I kg of water into I kg of dry saturated steam at its saturation
temperature. It is denoted as hg and will be equal to sum of the sensible heat hf and the latent
heat of evaporation hfg. '
hg = hf + hfg kJ/kg
Since a wet steam contains water molecules entrained in it, it will have absorbed only a
fraction of the latent heat of evaporation proportional to the mass of the dry steam contained
in the wet steam. Therefore the enthalpy of wet steam is defined as the total amount of heat
supplied at a constant pressure to convert I kg of water at O°C to I kg of wet steam at the
specified dryness fraction. It is denoted as h and will be equal to sum of the sensible heat and
the product of the dryness fraction and the latent heat of evaporation.
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Properties of Steam
h = hf + x hfg kJ/kg
To superheat the steam, the heat is supplied at a constant pressure to the dry saturated steam
to increase its temperature beyond its saturation temperature. Therefore the enthalpy of
superheated steam is defined as the total amount of heat supplied at a given constant
pressure to convert I kg of water at 0°C into I kg of superheated steam at the stated
superheated temperature. It is denoted as hsup and will be equal to sum of the enthalpy of dry
saturated steam and the amount of superheat. If Tsup is the superheated temperature, Tsat is the
saturated temperature and Csup is the specific heat of superheated steam, then the amount of
superheat will be equal to Cps (Tsup - Tsat).
Enthalpy equations:
Numerical:
Problem 01: Find the enthalpy of 1 kg of steam at 12 bar when, (a) steam is dry saturated,
(b) steam is 22% wet and (c) superheated to 250°C. Use the steam table. Assume the specific
heat of the superheated steam as 2.25 kJ/kgK.
Solution: From the steam tables at 12 bar, the following values are noted.
Ts = 188°C
hf = 798.43 kJ/kg
hfg = 1984.3 kJ/kg
When the steam is 22% wet, it will be 78% dry. Therefore the dryness fraction x = 0.78
h = hf +x hfg
= 798.43 + 0.78 x 1984.3
= 2346.18 kJ/kg
(c) Enthalpy of Superheated Steam:
Solution:
a) P = 10 bar, T = 200°C
From steam table, at 10 bar pressure, Tsat = 179.88°C
Since the saturation temperature {179.88 °C} is less than given steam temperature
[200°C], therefore the steam is superheated.
\ Degree of superheat = Tsup - Tsat = 20.12 °C
hg = 2782.7 kJ/kg.
Since the value of “hg” is greater than the given enthalpy of 2600 kJ/kg.
Solution:
From steam table, at 30 bar pressure, Tsat= 233.8°C
hf = 1008.3 KJ/kg.
hg = 2802.3 KJ/kg.
But, given enthalpy of steam [3681KJ/kg] is greater than enthalpy of dry steam “h g” [2802.3
KJ/kg].
This infers that the steam is superheated, hence we have to find the superheated temperature.
We have, hsup= hg + Csup (Tsup – Tsat)
0
\Tsup = 624.3 C
0
\Degree of super heat = 390.5 C
Problem 4:
hg = 2755.5 KJ/Kg.
o
\ Tsup = 267.47 C
\Degree of superheat = Tsup – Tsat
o
= 108.67 C
= 244.5 KJ/Kg
Problem 5:
= 2 x 4.1868 x 30
= 250.8 KJ (for 2 kg)
But heat added is 500 KJ.
\Enthalpy after heat addition = 250.8 + 500
= 750.8 KJ (for 2 kg)
\Sensible heat for 2 Kg = hf x 2
= 640.1 x 2 = 1280.2 KJ
Since enthalpy after heat addition [750.8] is less than that of enthalpy of saturated water.
\The resulting condition after heat addition is unsaturated water.
Problem 6:
5 kg of water is heated from 400C to superheated steam at 1500C with constant pressure of 3
bar. Find,
a) The total amount of heat added in the heating process
b) Amount of superheat
Enthalpy at “p”
= m. Cp. ΔT
= 1 x 4.1868 x 40
= 167.2 KJ/Kg.
Enthalpy at “q”
= hg + Csup (Tsup- Tsat) = 2761.82 KJ/Kg.
= 2594.62 KJ/kg.
= 2.25(150 – 133.5) x 5
= 185.625 KJ.
Problem 7:
2 boilers, one with super heater and another without super heater are delivering equal
quantities of steam into a common main. The pressure in the boiler and main is 20 bar. The
temperature of steam from a boiler with a super heater is 350 0 C and the temperature of
steam in the main is 2500 C. Determine the quality of steam supplied by the other boiler.
Solution:
Enthalpy of steam flowing from boiler B1:
o
P = 20 bar, T = 350 C,
From steam table at 20 bar pressure,
o
Tsat = 212.4 C, hf = 908.6 KJ/Kg, hfg = 1888.7 KJ/Kg, hg = 2797.2 KJ/Kg.
o
P = 20 bar, T = 250 C
o o
T = 250 C > Tsat = 212.4 C.
= 2881.8 KJ/Kg
\For 2 Kg = 2881.8 x 2 = 5763.6 KJ ------- (2)
Problem 8:
1000 Kg of steam at a pressure of 16 bar and 0.9 dry is generated by a boiler and it enters the
0
super heater. Where its temperature is raised such that the degree of superheat is 180 C. If the
0
temperature of feed water is 30 C, determine
Solution:
Solving per kg basis: i.e. m = 1,
Degree of
superheat,
Tsup -
Tsat = 180 oC
Answers to be
calculated are:
Heat supplied
to feed water in
the boiler = hQ
– hP
Heat absorbed
in the super
heater = hR –
hQ
\ hP = m. Cp. ΔT
= 2791.7 + 2.25(180)
= 3196.7 KJ/Kg.
Heat supplied to feed water in the boiler = hQ – hP
= 2472.98 KJ/Kg.
= 598.32 KJ/Kg.
= 1000 x 598.32
= 5,98,320 KJ
Problem 9:
A dry saturated steam at a pressure of 16 bar is generated in a boiler. Dry saturated steam
leaves the boiler to enter a super heater, where it loses heat equal to 600 kJ/kg.
kJ/kg And in the
super heater, steam is super heated to temperature of 380oC. If temperature of feed water is
30oC, determine:
\Enthalpy
Enthalpy at “p” = m . Cp . ΔT
= 125.4 kJ/kg.
= 3193.55 kJ/kg
Total heat supplied to feed water in the boiler
= h q - hp
= 2666.33 KJ/Kg.
Dryness fraction of steam at the entry of super heater = 68.96%
Total heat supplied in the super heater = hs – hr
= 1001.85 KJ/Kg
Problem 10:
The steam initially at a pressure of 9 bar and dryness fraction 0.98.
0.98 Find the final quality and
temperature of steam at each of the following operations.
Solution:
At P = 9 bar, Tsat = 175.4oC, hf = 742.6 KJ/kg, hfg = 2029.5 KJ/kg, hg = 2772.1 KJ/kg,
Given x1 = 0.98
hi = hf + x1 . hfg
\h = hf + x2 . hfg
\x2 = 0.9554
b) When steam receives 150 KJ/Kg, then the resulting enthalpy is,
= 2731.5 +150
= 2881.5 kJ/kg > hg
\ Steam is superheated.
To find Tsup,
o
\ Tsup = 223.6 C
Problem 11:
Answers:
a) x = 94 %
o
b) Tsup = 192.9 C
Problem 12:
2 boilers, one with super heater and another without super heater are delivering equal
quantities of steam into a common main. The pressure in the boiler and main is 15 bar. The
0
temperature of steam from a boiler with a super heater is 300 C and the temperature of
0
steam in the main is 200 C. Determine the quality of steam supplied by the other boiler.
Solution:
h = hf + x . hfg
Problem 13:
Solution:
Problem 14:
and enters the super heater and it is heated to 350oC in the super heater. Find the heat
supplied per Kg of steam.
a) In the Boiler and
b) In the super heater.
Solution:
a) Heat added in the boiler = 2344.57 KJ/Kg.
b) Heat supplied in the super heater = 535.85 KJ/Kg.
Critical Temperature & Pressure:
At a particular pressure water is directly converted into dry steam without going through the
phase of evaporation. i.e, hfg = 0. This point is called critical point and pressure and
temperature at that point are called Critical pressure and Critical temperature.
temperature
Pc = 221.2 bar
0
Tc = 374.15 C
Critical pressure:
It is the pressure at which the water is directly converted into dry steam without undergoing
the state of evaporation.
Critical temperature:
It is the corresponding temperature at the critical point.
Question Bank
Sl. No. Questions
1 List the advantages of superheated Steam
2 List the disadvantages of superheated steam
3 List the disadvantages of wet steam over superheated steam.
4 Define the terms: Dryness fraction of steam, critical point
5 What is the difference between dry steam and wet steam
6 State the uses of superheated steam produced by the boiler
7 Why should be the steam, handled at higher temperature than the higher pressure?
8 Describe the process of formation of steam at constant pressure and give its
graphical representation also.
9 Explain the following terms relating to steam formation
1. Sensible heat of water
2. Latent heat of steam
3. Dryness fraction of steam
4. Degree of superheat
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Properties of Steam
5. Amount of superheat
6. Saturation temperature
10 Write the expression for the following using common notations and explain the
terms used.
1. Enthalpy of dry saturated steam
2. Enthalpy of superheated steam
3. Enthalpy of wet steam
11 Differentiate between the following:
1. Sensible heat and latent heat
2. Critical point and freezing point.
12 5 Kg of water is heated from 400 C to superheated steam at 1500 C with constant
pressure of 3 bar, find i) the amount of heat added in the heating process and ii)
amount of superheat. Draw T-h diagram and mention all the data in it.
13 Feed water enters the boiler at 600 C at a pressure of 15 bar, if it leaves the boiler
with 0.1 wet to enter the super heater at 3500 C. find the heat supplied per kg of
steam
a) In the boiler
b) In the super heater
14 1000 kg of steam at a pressure of 16 bar and 0.9 dry is generated by a boiler per
hour. Steam passes through a super heater, where its temperature is raised such that
degree of superheat is 1800 C. If the temperature of the feed water is 300 C,
determine
a) The total heat supplied to feed water per hour to produce wet steam in the
boiler.
b) Total heat absorbed per hour in the super heater.
15 A saturated steam at a pressure of 16 bar is generated in a boiler. Saturated steam
leaves the boiler to enter a super heater. Before entering the super heater it losses
heat equal to 600 kJ/kg. And in the super heater, steam is superheated to temperature
of 3800 C. If temperature of feed water is 300 C, determine
a) Total heat supplied to feed water in the boiler
b) Dryness fraction of the steam at the entry of super heater.
c) Total heat supplied in the super heater
16 Two boilers one with super heater and other without super heater one delivering
equal quantities of steam in to a common main. The pressure in the boiler and the
main is 15 bar. The temperature of the steam from a boiler with a super heater is
3000C and the temperature of the steam in the main is 2000C. Determine the quality
of steam supplied by the other boiler.
17 5 kg of water is heated from 400C to superheated steam at 1500C with constant
pressure of 3 bar. find,
i) Total amount of heat added in the heating process.
ii) Amount of superheat.
Assume: Cp Water = 4.18kJ/kg K, Cp Superheated Steam= 2.25kJ/kg K
18 By actual measurement the enthalpy of saturated steam at 1900 C is 2500 KJ/kg,
what is the quality of the steam? If 500 KJ/kg of heat is added to this steam at
constant pressure, what is the final state of the steam? Also determine the final
temperature.
19 2 Kg of water at 300C is heated continuously at constant pressure of 5 bar. The total
amount of heat added is 500 KJ. Determine the dryness fraction or degree of
superheat of the resulting steam as the case may be.