Ateneo de Davao University

Jacinto St., Davao City

Experiment Number 5 – Humidification

A Laboratory Report

Submitted as a Requirement on Chemical Engineering Laboratory II

Submitted by:

Daquipa, Therese Ann P.

Endraca, Ronald Sebastian III M.

Labtic, Rachel Faith P.

Peña, Paolo Miguel M.

Samson, Dana Gabrielle C.

Submitted to:

Engr. Eva Marie C. Mendoza

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ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
Chemical Engineering Department

Unit Operations Laboratory 2

Name of Students: Daquipa, Therese Ann P.

Endraca, Ronald Sebastian III M.
Labtic, Rachel Faith P.
Peña, Paolo Miguel M.
Samson, Dana Gabrielle C.

EXPERIMENT NO. 5

Humidification

Evaluation Reports Ratings

1. Does the result section contain the 0 2 4 6 8 10

essence of the study?

2. Does the report show 0 2 4 6 8 10

understanding
of technical and calculation work?

3. Does the report show 0 2 4 6 8 10

understanding
of relevant theory especially in the
discussion section?

4. Is the report technically correct and 0 2 4 6 8 10

complete in its coverage?

5. What is the level of presentation 0 2 4 6 8 10

(clarity, grammar, spelling, text,
tables, illustrations, exhibits and
charts?)

6. Is the report on time? 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5

Total Points: ______________

GRADE: ______________
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A. ABSTRACT

In this experiment, the humidification process was performed on a packed tower

with the subject water’s temperature higher that of the compressed air to compute for the
overall mass and heat transfer rate. The results of the experiment showed that the overall
g
mass transfer coefficient was 5.53x10−4 cm3−min and the overall heat transfer coefficient was
J
0.120 .
cm−min
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B. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Rubrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

A. Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

B. Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

C. Introduction/Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

D. Equipment and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

E. Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

F. Discussion and Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

G. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
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C. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVE

1. To determine the overall mass transfer rate of a humidifier

2. To determine the overall heat transfer rate of a humidifier

INTRODUCTION

Humidification transfer of the material between a pure liquid

phase and fixed gas that is nearly insoluble. The evaporation of water into air for the purpose of
increasing the air humidity is known as humidification. The humidification equipment used is a
packed tower where the vessel is filled with Raschig rings or other objects specifically designed
for packing.

Considering a packed tower to which air at a temperature and humidity is fed

countercurrent to water entering at a temperature, the overall mass transfer rate (1) and overall heat
transfer rate (2) are:

𝑑𝐻 𝑘𝑦 𝑎𝑀𝑏
= [1]
(𝐻𝑖 − 𝐻) 𝑉′𝑑𝑧

𝑑𝑇𝑦 ℎ𝑦 𝑎
= [2]
(𝑇𝑖 − 𝑇) 𝐶𝑠𝑉′𝑑𝑧

Where:
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𝐾𝑦 𝑎 - gas phase mass transfer coefficient

𝑀𝑏 - tower cross sectional area
𝑑𝐻
- number of transfer units
(𝐻𝑖 −𝐻)
𝑘𝑦 𝑎
1/ - height of a transfer unit
𝑉′

ℎ𝑦 𝑎 - heat transfer coefficient

𝐶𝑠 - specific heat of liquid
𝑉 ′ - flow rate of air

Humidification of air are required in many commercial and industrial applications for the
control of air moisture content within occupied space and to control the air moisture within a space
for process control and production. These unit operations hold industrial importance and involves
the contact of air and water accompanied by heat and mass transfer.
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D. EQUIPMENT AND METHODS

 Packed Tower
 Water and coil heater
 Thermometer and Sling Psychrometer

Method:

1) Charge water reservoir of packed tower with hot water of 5°F higher than that of ambient
air
2) Switch on the pump and adjust flow rate
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3) Switch on air compressor and adjust flow rate of about ¼ compared to that of water flow
rate
4) Take dry- and wet-bulb temperature of ambient air (bottom of tower)
5) Take dry- and wet-bulb temperature of ambient air (top of tower)
6) Monitor temperature of hot water and maintain water level and temperature
7) Continue operation until steady state conditions is attained
E. RESULTS

Height of packed tower = 238 cm

Tower diameter = 9 cm
Cross-sectional area of tower: 62.04cm2
Type of packing: Glass tube
Air flow rate: 20 L/min
Water flow rate: 5 L/min

Let:
H = enthalpy
k y = mass transfer coefficient
mb = cross section area of tower
V’ = mass flow rate of dry gas
Cs = specific heat
hy = heat transfer coefficient
y = humidity (using psychometric chart)

Temperature Top Bottom

T, dry bulb 32 ⁰C 30.7 ⁰C
T, wet bulb 30.5 ⁰C 28 ⁰C
T, water 36 ⁰C
y 27 g/kg d.a 23 g/kg d.a
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H 105 kJ/kg d.a 88 kJ/kg d.a

𝐇𝐢 (36⁰C) 150.82 kJ/kg
𝐂𝐬 (36⁰C) 4.178 J/g-K

Mass flow rate of dry gas:

20 L
V′ = ( )(1000 cm3 /L)(0.001225g/cm3 )
min
V’ = 24.46 g/min

Overall mass transfer coefficient:

150.82−88
(24.46 g/min) (ln | |
150−105
ky = (62.04cm2 ) (238cm)

k y = 5.53x10−4 g/cm3 -min

Overall heat transfer coefficient:

Ti−T1
(Cs )(V′) (ln | |
Ti−T2
hy = (h)
36−30.7
(4.178 J/g•K)(24.46 g/min) (ln | |
36−32
hy = (238.76cm)
J
hy = 0.120 cm−min
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F. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

DISCUSSION

In this experiment, the humidification process was carried out in a packed tower.
Furthermore, water is sprayed as a mist in low-humidity air. Also, the water was conditioned to
have a higher temperature than the air stream in order to humidify the air stream effectively. The
g J
results of this experiment showed that 5.53x10−4 cm3 −min and 0.120 cm−min were the overall mass
transfer coefficient and the overall heat transfer coefficient, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The positive values of the overall mass and heat transfer coefficients signify the
humidification process, where the transfer of water to the airstream was proven. It can also be
concluded that a relatively lesser overall mass transfer coefficient was achieved since the
temperature of the water is closer to the room temperature which is, presumably, also the
temperature of the countercurrent compressed air.
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REFERENCES

[1] Dalili, F. (2003) Humidification in Evaporative Power Cycle. Stockholm, Sweden

[2] Brown, G. G. (1950). Unit operations (No. 660.28 B76).