LECTURE NO.

6 & 7

Properties of Steam

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 LECTURE OBJECTIVES

To develop an understanding of:

• Steam
• Types of Steam
• Properties

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 Steam
Steam is a vapor of water and is invisible when
pure and dry.

It is used as the working substance in the

operation of steam engines and steam turbines.

Steam does not obey laws of perfect gases until it

is perfectly dry.

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 Formation of Steam at a Constant
Pressure from Water
Consider 1 kg of water at 0 oC contained in the
piston cylinder arrangment as shown in Figure
below:

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 Formation of Steam at a Constant
Pressure from Water
The piston and weights maintain a constant pressure. If we heat
the water in the cylinder, it will be converted into steam.

i. The volume of water will increase slightly with the increase in

temperature as shown in (b). This increase in volume is generally
neglected for all type of calculations.

ii. On further heating, temperature reaches boiling point. The boiling

point of water at normal atmosphere pressure of 1.013 bar (14.7
psi) is 100 oC but it increases with the increase in pressure.

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 Formation of Steam at a Constant
Pressure from Water
When the boiling point is acheived, the temperature
remains constant and the water evaporates, thus
pushing the piston upward, against the constant
pressure.

Consequently, the specific volume of steam increases

as in (c). At this stage, the steam will have some
particles of water in suspension and is termed as Wet
Steam.

The process will continue till the whole water is

converted inot wet steam.
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 Formation of Steam at a Constant
Pressure from Water
iii. On further heating, the water particles in suspension will be
converted into steam. The entire steam in such state is termed
as dry steam or saturated steam as in (d).
Practically, the dry steam behaves like a perfect gas.

iv. On further heating, the temperature of the steam starts rising.

The steam in such a state is termed as superheated steam as in
(e).

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 Temperature vs. Total Heat Graph
during Steam Formation

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The point A represents the initial condition of water at 0 oC and
pressure P (in bar).

Line ABCD shows the relation between temperature and heat at a

specific pressure of P (in bar) during the formation of the
superheated steam from water at freezing point. The heat is
absorbed in the following stages:

i. The heating of water upto boiling temperature or saturation

temperature (t) is shown by AB. The heat absorbed by the water is
AP, known as sensible heat or liquid heat or total heat of water.

ii. The change of state from liquid to steam is shown by BC. The
heat absorbed during this stage is PQ known as Latent heat of
vaporization.

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 iii. The superheating process is shown by CD. The heat absorbed
during this stage is QR known as heat of superheat. Line AR
represents the total heat of the steam.

If the pressure is increases (say P1), the boiling temperature

also increases. The point E represents the boiling temperature
or saturation temperature at pressure P1 and F is the point of
dry saturated steam.

Line FG shows the constant pressure process, in which the

steam is superheated.

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 Similarly, a family of curves may be drawn for different
processes. The line passing through the points A,B,E,K is
known as saturated liquid line which forms boundry line
between water and steam.

Similarly, a line passing through dry steam points L,F,C is

known as dry saturated steam line which forms boundry line
between wet and superheated steam.

It is also important to note that when the process and

saturation temperature increases, the latent heat of
vaporization decreases, it becomes zero at point (N) when
liquid and dry steam lines meet.

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 This point (N) is known as critical point and at
this point, the liquid and vapor phases merge
and become identical in every respect.

The temperature corresponding to critical

point “N” is known as critical temperature and
pressure is known as critical pressure.

For steam, the critical temperature is 374.15 oC

and critical pressure is 221.2 bar.

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 Important terms for Steam:
i. Wet Steam
When the steam contains moisture or particles of water in
suspension, it is said to be wet steam. It means that evaporation
of water is not complete and whole of the latent heat has not
been absorbed.
ii. Dry Saturated Steam
When the wet steam is further heated and it does not contain
any superheated particles of water is known as dry saturated
steam. The dry saturated steam has absorbed its full latent heat
and behaves practically in the same way as a perfect gas.
iii. Superheated Steam
When the dry saturated steam is further heated at a constant
pressure, the temperature increases and it is said to be
superheated steam. Since the pressure is constant, therfore the
volume of superheated steam increases.
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 Hint: The volume of 1kg of superheated steam is considerbly
greater than the volume of 1 kg of dry saturated steam.
Practically, the superheated steam is produced in a separate
apparatus known as superheater. Hence, it is out of contact
with water from which it is formed.

iv. Dryness fraction or Quality of steam

It is the ratio of the mass of actual dry steam to the mass of
same quantity of wet steam. It is generally denoted by “x” and
calculted as:
Where;
mg= Mass of actual dry steam
mf= Mass of water in suspension
m= Mass of wet steam = mg + mf
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 Hint: The value of “x” in case of dry steam is unity. At this
stage, the mass of water in suspension (mf) is zero.
v. Sensible Heat
It is the amount of heat absorbed by 1kg of water when heated at
a constant pressure, from the freezing point (0 oC) to the
temperature of formation of steam, i.e. saturation temperature (t).
The sensible heat is also known as liquid heat. The specific heat
of water at constant pressure is usually taken as 4.2 kJ/kg/K.
Therfore, heat absorbed by 1 kg of water from 0 oC to t oC or
sensible heat is calculated as:
S.H= Mass* sp. heat* Rise in Temperature
S.H=1*4.2*(t-0) = 4.2 t kJ/kg
Thus the sensible heat of water in kJ/kg may be obtained directly
by multiplying the specific heat of water and saturation
temperature (t) in oC.
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 Hint: The Sensible heat of water is taken equal to the specific
enthalpy (i.e. total heat) of water. It is usually denoted by “hf” in
steam tables, and its value may be determined for any given
pressure in kJ/kg.

vi. Latent heat of Vaporization

It is the amount of heat absorbed to evaporate 1kg of water at its
boiling point or saturation temperature without change of
temperature. It is denoted by “hfg” and its value depends upon
the pressure. The heat of vaporization of water or latent heat of
steam is 2257 kJ/kg at atmospheric pressure.
It has been experimentally found that the value of hfg decreases
as the pressure increases and it is zero at critical pressure.
Hint: If the steam is wet with a dryness fraction “x”, then the
heat absorbed by it during evaporation is xhfg.
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vii. Enthalpy or Total Heat of Steam
It is the amount of heat absorbed by water from freezing point (0
oC) to saturation temperature plus the heat absorbed during

evaporation.
Enthalpy or total heat of steam= Sensible heat + Latent heat
It is denoted by “hg” and its value for dry saturated steam may
be read directly from steam tables.

The expression for the enthalpy of wet steam, dry steam, and
superheated steam are as follows;
a. Wet Steam
The enthalpy of wet steam is given by h  h f  xh fg
b. Dry Steam
In case of dry steam x=1, therefore h  h f  h fg
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c. Superheated Steam
The total heat required for the steam to be superheated is:
hsup=Total heat for dry steam + Heat for superheated steam
hsup  h f  h fg  c p (t sup  t )

Where:
cp = Mean specific heat at constant pressure for
superheated steam
tsup = Temperature of superheated steam
t = Saturation temperature at given constant pressure
Hint: The difference (tsup-t) is known as degree of superheat. The
value of cp for steam lies between 1.67kJ/kg/K to 2.5 kJ/kg/K.

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 Example No. 1:
Calculate the enthalpy of 1 kg of steam at a pressure of 8 bar and
dryness fraction of 0.8. How much heat would be required to
raise 2 kg of this steam from water at 20 oC?
Given:
P= 8 bar x= 0.8 m= 1kg
Calculate:
h= ? Heat required for 2 kg of steam=?
Solution:
we know that enthalpy of 1 kg of wet steam is h  h f  xh fg
From steam tables, corresponding to a pressure of 8 bar, we find
that
hf= 720.9 kJ/kg and hfg= 2046.5 kJ/kg
Therefore, h  720.9  0.8 * 2046.5
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h  2358.1 kJ 19
 Heat required to raise 2 kg of this steam from water at 20 oC is
calculted as:
The enthalpy or total heat required to raise 1 kg of steam from
water at 0 oC.
Since the water is already at 20 oC, therefore,
Heat already in water  mcpt
Heat already in water  1* 4.2 * (20  0)  84kJ

Therefore: Heat required per kg of steam = 2358.1-84

=2274.1kJ
Heat required for 2kg of steam = 2* 2274.1
=4548.2 kJ

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 Example No. 2:
Determine the quantity of heat required to produce 1 kg of steam
at a pressure of 6 bar at a temperature of 25 oC under the following
conditions.
i.When the stema is wet having dryness fraction of 0.9
ii.When the steam is dry saturated
iii.When it is superheated at a constant pressure at 250 oC
assuming mean specific heat of superheated steam to be 3.3
kJ/kg.K.
  Given:
P= 6 bar x= 0.8 tw= 25 oC tsup= 250 oC cp=2.3
J/kg/K
Calculate:
i. h for wet steam= ? ii. hg for dry saturated steam=?
iii. hsup=?
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 Solution:
h  h f  xh fg
we know that enthalpy of 1 kg of wet steam is
From steam tables, corresponding to a pressure of 6 bar, we
find that
hf= 670.4 kJ/kg/K and hfg= 2085 kJ/kg and t=158.8 oC
h  670.4  0.9 * 2085
Therefore,
h  2546.9kJ

Since the water

Heat is already
already in at 25 oC,therefore,
water mcpt
Heat already in water  1* 4.2 * ( 25  0)  105kJ

Therefore: Heat required per kg of steam=2546.9-105=2441.9kJ

ii. When steam is dry saturated, weh know
 h that
h enthalpy of 1 kg of
g f fg
dry saturated steam is
hg  670.4  2085  2755.4kJ
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 Heat actually required = 2755.4 – 105 = 2650.4 kJ
iii. When the steam is superheated, we know that enthalpy of 1 kg
of superheated steam ishsup  hg  c p (tsup  t )
hsup  2755.4  2.3(250  158.5)  2965.16kJ

Heat actually required = 2965.16 – 105 = 2860 kJ

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 Example No. 3:
Determine the condition of steam in the following cases:
1. At a pressure of 10 bar and temperature 200 oC.
2. At a pressure of 10 bar and volume 0.175 m3/kg.
Given:
P= 10 bar t= 200 oC v= 0.175 m3/kg
Calculate:
1. Condition of steam at a pressure of 10 bar and temperature 200
oC?

2. Condition of steam at a pressure of 10 bar and volume 0.175

m3/kg?
Solution:
From steam tables, corresponding to a pressure of 10 bar, we find
that
hf= 762.6 kJ/kg/K , t=179.9 oC and v=0.194m3/kg
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Since the saturation temperature at 10 bar is 179.9 oC or lower than
the given temperature of the steam 200 oC, therefore, steam is
superheated.
The degree of superheat = 200 – 179.9 = 20.1 oC

2. Condition of steam at a volume of 0.175 m3/kg

Since the colume of given steam (0.175 m3/kg) is less than the
specific volume of the dry saturated steam (0.194 m3/kg),
therefore, the given steam is wet.
The dryness fraction of steam is
x= 0.175/0.194 = 0.902

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 Example No. 4:
Steam enters an engine at a pressure of 12 bar with a 67 oC of
superheat. It is exhausted at a pressure of 0.15 bar and 0.95 dry.
Find the drop in enthalpy of the steam.
Given:
P1= 12 bar tsup-t= 67 oC P2= 0.15 bar x= 0.95
Calculate:
i. Drop in enthalpy=?
Solution:
From steam tables, corresponding to a pressure of 12 bar, we
find that
hf= 798.4 kJ/kg/K and hfg= 1984.3 kJ/kg Therefore,
The enthalpy of 1kg of superheated steam is

sup  h f+1984.3
=h798.4 h fg  c p (+tsup2 * t67
) = 2916.7 kJ/kg

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Similarly, from steam tables, corresponding to a pressure of 0.15
bar, we find that
hf= 226 kJ/kg/K and hfg= 2373.2 kJ/kg
The enthalpy of 1kg of wet steam is

h  h f  xh fg

= 226 + 0.95 * 1984.3 = 2111 kJ/kg

Drop in enthalpy of the steam = hsup  h

= 2916.7 – 2111 = 805.7 kJ/kg

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 Example No. 5:
A steam engine obtains steam from a boiler at a pressure of 15
bar and 0.98 dry. It was observed that the steam loses 21 kJ of
heat per kg as it flows through the pipe line, pressure remaining
constant. Calculate dryness fraction of the stem, at the engine
end of pipeline.
Given:
P= 15 bar x= 0.95 Heat loss= 21 kJ/kg
Calculate:
i. x=?
Solution:
From steam tables, corresponding to a pressure of 15 bar, we find
that
hf= 844.6 kJ/kg/K and hfg= 1945.3 kJ/kg
The enthalpy of 1kg of superheated steam is
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The enthalpy of 1kg of superheated steam is
h1  h f  x1h fg
= 844.6 + 0.98 * 1945.3 = 2751 kJ/kg
Since the steam losses 21 kJ/kg of steam, therefore enthalpy of wet
steam at the engine end is
h2 = 2751 – 21 = 2730 kJ/kg

Let x2= dryness fraction of steam at the engine end.

Since the pressure remain constant, therfore hf and hfg is same.
Therefore
h2  h f  x2 h fg
2730 = 844.6 + x2 * 1945.3
x2 = 0.97

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 THANKYOU

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