14-169 Dry air flows over a water body at constant pressure and temperature until it is saturated. The molar analysis of the
saturated air and the density of air before and after the process are to be determined.
Assumptions The air and the water vapor are ideal gases.
Properties The molar masses of N2, O2, Ar, and H2O are 28.0, 32.0, 39.95 and 18 kg / kmol, respectively (Table A-1). The
0.0097
0.2025
0.7566
0.0313
====
====
====
===
325.101
kPa) 156.98(01.0
325.101
kPa) 156.98(209.0
325.101
kPa) 156.98(781.0
325.101
169.3
airdry dry,Ar
Ar
Ar
airdry dry,OO
O
airdry dry,NN
N
OH
OH
22
2
22
2
2
2
P
Py
P
P
y
P
Py
P
P
y
P
Py
P
P
y
P
P
y
(b) The molar masses of dry and saturated air are
=++== kg/kmol0.2995.3901.00.32209.00.28781.0
airdry ii MyM
=+++== kg/kmol62.28180313.09.390097.00.322025.00.287566.0
airsat ii MyM
Then the densities of dry and saturated air are determined from the ideal gas relation to be
( )
( )
( )
3
kg/m1.186=
+
== K27325kg/kmol0.29/Km³/kmolkPa8.314
kPa325.101
/airdry
airdry TMR
P
u
( ) ( )
( )
3
kg/m1.170=
+
== K27325kg/kmol62.28/Km³/kmolkPa8.314
kPa325.101
/airsat
airsat TMR
P
u
Discussion We conclude that the density of saturated air is less than that of the dry air, as expected. This is due to the molar
mass of water being less than that of dry air.