18ME15/25 EME SS, Dept of ME

Unit 2: Formation of steam at constant Pressure

Consider 1 kg of water at 0oC taken in a cylinder, fitted with freely moving piston. A weight w is
placed over the piston. The weight of the piston and the weight w placed on the piston exerts a
constant pressure P on the water. Let V be the volume. The condition of the water at 0oC is
represented by a point A on the T-H Diagram (Temperature – Enthalpy Diagram).

When water is heated at a constant pressure, it is converted to a steam, The various stages
involved in the process are:

1. On heating the temperature of the water rises at a certain temperature water begins to boil
(evaporate). The temperature at which the water starts boiling is known as saturation
temperature and is denoted by ts. (this process is shown by line AB on TH Diagram, At
this temperature there is a slight increase in volume vf)
2. When water is heated beyond saturation temperature, there will be no rise in temperature
but evaporation of water takes place At this stage water exists as two-phase mixture
containing saturated liquid and water vapour occupying volume vfg. The steam in this
condition is called Wet Steam. ( This process is shown by BC on T-H Diagram)
3. At point C the steam formed does not contain water vapour (water particles in
suspension) and hence the steam in this state is called Dry Steam.
4. If an further continued at point C, the temperature of the steam increases above the
saturation temperature and this temperature is called super heat temperature denoted by
18ME15/25 EME SS, Dept of ME

tsup. The steam in this condition is called Superheated steam. The process of heating the
dry steam is called super heating and is shown by the line CD on T-H Diagram.Important
definations and properties of steam:
1. Wet Steam: Wet steam is a two phase mixture containing saturated liquid and vapour
formed at the saturation temperature and at a given pressure (Or) A wet steam is defined
as a two-phase mixture of water molecules and steam in thermal equilibrium at the
saturation temperature corresponding to a given pressure. Both water molecules and
steam will have same saturation temperature. The dryness fraction of wet steam is less
than one.

2. Dry Steam: Dry steam is a pure steam that does not contain water particles in
suspension.It is defined as the steam that exists completely in pure vapour form at the
saturation temperature and at a given pressure. The dryness fraction of dry steam will be
unity.
3. Super heated steam : A superheated steam is defined as the steam which is heated
beyond its dry saturated state to temperature higher than its saturation temperature at the
given pressure. The dryness fraction of superheated steam will be more then unity.

T-H Diagram ( Temperature – Enthalpy Diagram)

18ME15/25 EME SS, Dept of ME

Sensible Heat: The amount of heat required to change temperature of one kg of water from 00C
to saturation temperature is defined as sensible heat and is denoted by hf.

Latent Heat: The amount of heat required to convert one kg of water at saturation of
temperature into dry saturated steam at the same temperature, is known as latent heat of
evaporation and is denoted by hfg.

Total heat of evaporation: The amount of heat required to convert one kg of water from 00C to
dry saturated steam, is known as total heat of evaporation. It is the sum of the sensible heat (hf)
and latent heat (hfg). It is denoted by hg and hg = hf+hfg

Amount of Super Heat: It is the amount of heat required to convert dry steam a in to
superheated steam at Tsup.

Superheated Temperature: If dry steam of temperature ts is heated further its temperature will
rise and which is known as superheated temperature and is denoted Tsup.

Degree of Super Heat: The amount of rise in temperature when dry steam is converted into
super heated steam is termed as degree of super heat i.e. degree of super heat= Tsup- ts 0(C)

Dryness Fraction: The ration of mass dry particles presents in a known quantity of wet steam is
defined as dryness fraction. It is denoted by x, it is expressed as fraction or percentage. It
indicates the quality of steam

𝐦𝐠
𝐱= Where mg = mass of dry particles, mg+mf = mass of wet particles
𝐦𝐠+𝐦𝐟

x= 1 for dry steam

x <1 for wet steam
x>1 for superheated system
Enthalpy of dry steam: The amount of heat required to convert one kg of water from 00C to dry
steam (at saturation temperature). hg = hf + hfg kJ/kg

Enthalpy of wet steam: Wet steam contains water particles in it. If x is the quality/dryness
fraction of wet steam, the enthalpy of wet steam is calculated by, hwet = hf +x hfg kJ/kg
18ME15/25 EME SS, Dept of ME

Enthalpy of superheated steam: The amount of heat required to convert 1kf of water (at00C)
into super heated steam (at Tsup0C) is defined as enthalpy of super heated steam is denoted by
hsup. hsup= hg+ Cps( Tsup – ts) kJ/kg where Cps = 2.25 kJ/kg K. is specific heat of super Heated
steam

Specific Volume: The volume (m3) occupied by unit mass (1 kg) of a substance is known as
specific volume (or) the reciprocal of density is known as specific volume. I.e. volume/unit mass
is specific volume. It is usually expressed in m3/kg.

Specific volume of dry steam: vdry = vg

Specific volume of wet steam: vwet = x vg

𝑻𝒔𝒖𝒑
Specific volume of superheated steam = vsup= vg
𝑻𝒔

Important Formulas:
𝑀𝑔
1. Dryness Fraction = (x) = 𝑀𝑔+𝑀𝑓

2. Enthalpy of wet steam hwet= hf + x hfg

3. Enthalpy of dry steam hg= hf + hfg ( where x = 1 for dry steam)
4. Enthalpy of Superheated steam hsup= hg+ Cps( Tsup – ts)
(Where Cps = 2.25KJ/Kg K)
5. Specific Volume of Wet steam V= xVg
6. Specific Volume of Dry Steam V= Vg
𝑇𝑠𝑢𝑝
7. Specific Volume of Super Heated steam= Vsup= Vg 𝑇𝑠

8. External work of evaporation for Wet steam = 100PxVg

9. External work of evaporation for Dry steam = 100 PVg
10. External work of evaporation for Superheated steam = 100PVsup
11. Internal energy of Wet steam = uwet = hwet - 100PxVg
12. Internal energy of Dry steam = uwet = hg - 100PVg
13. Internal energy of Superheated steam = hsup - 100PVsup
14. Enthapy H = U+ PV ( where U= Internal energy, PV= Product of pressure and
Volume)
Change in Entropy = dS = dQ / T.
18ME15/25 EME SS, Dept of ME

Worked example Problems:

Find the enthalpy of 1kg of steam at 12bar when Steam is dry saturated , Steam is 22% wet,
Superheated to 2500C, assume the specific heat of the superheated steam as 2.25kJ/Kg

Sol:- From the steam tables at 12bar, we have ts = 1880C, hf = 798.43 kJ/kg , hfg = 1984.3kJ/kg
Enthalpy of dry saturated steam hg = hf + hfg =2782.7kJ/kg

a) Enthalpy of dry saturated steam , hg = hf + hfg =2782.7kJ/kg

b) Enthalpy of wet steam When the steam is 22% wet, it will be 78% dry Therefore dryness
fraction, X = 0.78
Hint: (when ever in problem 22% wet is given then first subtract it with 100, so you
will get 100 – 22 = 78%, to convert it in to decimals divide by 100 therefore 78/100 we
get 0.78, If in problem it is in points retain the same)
hwet = hf + xhfg
= 798.43 +0.78*1984.3
= 2364.18kJ/kg
c) hsup = hg + Cps(Tsup – ts)
= 2782.7+2.25(250-188)
=2782.7+139.5
=2922.2 kJ/kg

Find the enthalpy of 1kg of steam at 10bar absolute, when the steam is Dry saturated, 20%
wet, Superheated to 2200C. Assume specific heat of superheated steam as 2.25kJ/kg K. Take
the following date for the steam at 10bar:

ts hf h hg
fg

1800C 762 2030 2792kJ/kg

18ME15/25 EME SS, Dept of ME

i) Enthalpy of dry steam , hg=2792 kJ/kg

ii) When the steam is 20% wet, it is 80% dry hence, the dryness fraction x=0.8 (the
condition of steam is wet) ,We know that enthalpy of wet steam as
hwet = hf + xhfg

= 762+ (0.8)2030

= 2386 kJ/kg

iii) enthalpy of super heated steam

hsup= hg+ Cps( Tsup – ts)
2792 + 2.25(220-180)
= 2882 kJ/kg

Determine the specific volume and density of 1kg of steam at a pressure of 7X 105 Pa when the
condition of steam is i) wet, having dryness fraction 0.9 ii) dry and iii) superheated at 2800C. If
required use the steam table provided below.

P ts Vg

7bar 437.92K 0.273341 m3/kg

Given pressure = 7X105 Pa = 7 bar (105 Pa =1bar)

i) When the steam is wet, having dryness fraction 0.9

Specific volume of wet steam: vwet = x vg = (0.9) (0.273341) = 0.246 m3/kg

Density of wet steam ρ= 1/Vwet = 1/0.246 = 4.06 kg/m3

ii) When the steam is dry its specific volume = Vg , Density of dry steam ρ= 1/Vg
Specific volume of dry steam =Vg = 0.273341
Density of dry steam = 1/0.273341
= 3.66 kg/m3
iii) When the steam is superheated, we know Vsup = Vg* (Tsup/ts)
Where Tsup = 250+273=573K & ts = 437.92K Therefore,
18ME15/25 EME SS, Dept of ME

Vsup= 0.273341 * (523/437.92) = 0.3264 kg/m3

Density of super heated steam = ρsup
ρsup =1/ Vsup=1/0.3264 = 3.063 kg/m3

Determine the dryness fraction of steam if 2kg of water is in suspension with 80kg of dry
steam.

Given data, mf = 2kg, mg = 80kg

𝑚𝑔 80
𝑫𝒓y𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑿 =
𝑚𝑔+𝑚𝑓
= 80+2 = 0.975

10kg of wet steam contains 1.75kg of water particles in it. What is the dryness fraction of the
steam?

Total mass (i.e. wet steam mass) = 10kg

Mass of water particles (mf) = 1.75kg

Mass of dry steam particles (mg) = (10 – 1.75) kg = 8.25kg

𝑚𝑔 8.25
𝑫𝒓y𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑿 =
𝑚𝑔+𝑚𝑓
= 8.25+1.75
= 0.825

Some hints to solve the problems:

• Note the values of hf, hfg ,hg, ts and vg from the steam tables corresponding to the pressure
in bar given in the problem.
• 1 bar = 105pa
• Conversion of Mpa in to bar if 0.8Mpa = 0.8 * 106 = 0.8 *10*105= 8 bar where
105pa = 1bar, Mega =106, Kilo = 103.
• If steam is 20% wet is given then subtract it with 100 and then answer is divided by 100
to get in decimals (100-20)/100 = 0.8 is the dryness fraction.
• If it is in decimal retain the same.
• If 90% dry is given directly divide by 100 that is 90/100= 0.9.
• To convert degree Celsius to Kelvin add 273. e.g.: 20 degree Celsius = 293K

Sagar S
Assistant Professor
Dept of ME