Dryness Fraction

DETERMINING DRYNESS FRACTION

Figure 1

Temperature/Enthalpy

Dryness Fraction
This handout assumes the student is familiar with Steam Tables and the terms found therein. If required,
please review Steam Tables before continuing.
The heavy solid line in the above chart represents the transformation of 1 kg of water at 0C and atmospheric
pressure into steam, with the addition of heat.
From 0C to 100C, energy is added to the water in the form of sensible heat. This causes an increase in
temperature while its state remains the same. This energy is referred to in steam tables as hf. The change
from 1 kg of water at 0C into 1 kg of water at 100C requires the addition of 419.04 kJ of energy. Therefore,
at atmospheric pressure:
hf = 419.04 kJ/kg
The saturation temperature of water at atmospheric pressure is 100C. The addition of more heat will not
cause a temperature change but will, instead, cause a change of state. In this case, evaporation into steam
at 100C. The change from 1 kg of water at 100C into dry saturated steam at 100C requires the addition of
2257.0 kJ of energy. Therefore, at atmospheric pressure:
hfg = 2257.0 kJ/kg.
Referring to the diagram, you will notice that hg = hf + hfg
If not all of hfg is added to the water, then not all of the water can change into steam. If, say, 50% of hfg is
added then only 50% of the water will be changed into steam and the steam will be referred to as 50% dry.
This is known as the dryness fraction of the steam.
Expanding on this, then, it can be seen that the total enthalpy content of steam of a certain dryness fraction,
and made from water at 0C, can be found out by totalling hf and that portion of hfg which has been added
(hfg multiplied by the dryness fraction). If the steam is 100% dry, then the entire amount of hfg has been
added and the dryness fraction of the steam would be 100% or 1.
Putting this into a formula we get:
total enthalpy = hf + (dryness fraction) x (hfg)
Using this formula and the information found in Steam Tables, one can determine the dryness fraction of
steam at any pressure or temperature.

Dryness Fraction

2
Example 1:

One kilogram of steam at 1400 kPa has a total enthalpy content of 2202.09 kJ. Determine the dryness fraction of the steam.
From the Steam Tables:
hf = 830.30 kJ/kg
hfg = 1959.7 kJ/kg
hg = 2790.0 kJ/kg
Since it is given that the enthalpy of the steam is less than that of dry saturated steam at 1400 kPa (hg), one
knows that the steam is wet.
htotal = hf + (dryness fraction) x (hfg)
htotal - hf
_______
= (dryness fraction)
(hfg)

Then, substituting in the values,

2202.09 = 830.30 + (df)(1959.7)
2202.09 - 830.30/1959.7 = df
df = 0.7
Therefore the dryness fraction of the steam is 0.7 or 70%
Example 2:

Consider 5 kg of steam at 2000 kPa with a total enthalpy of 12571 kJ. What is the dryness fraction?
First, the Steam Tables give figures that are per kilogram. So we have to determine the total enthalpy of 1
kg of the steam.
12571 5 = 2514.2kJ/kg
From the Steam Tables
Steam at 2000 kPa:

hf = 908.79 kJ/kg
hfg = 1890.7 kJ/kg
hg = 2799.5 kJ/kg

Comparing the actual total enthalpy of the steam and hg for steam at 2000 kPa, we know the steam is wet.
Using the formula, substitute the values in and solve for the dryness fraction.
htotal = hf + (dryness fraction) x (hfg)
htotal - hf
_______
= (dryness fraction)
(hfg)

Then, substituting in the values,

2514.2 = 908.79 + (df)(1890.7)
(2514.2 - 908.79)
_______________
= df
1890.7

df = 0.849
Therefore the dryness fraction is 0.849 or 84.9%

Dryness Fraction
Example 3:

How much heat must be supplied to 200 kgs of water at 20C to make steam at 850 kPa which is 87% dry?
This is a two part question. You first have to determine what the total enthalpy of the steam (at 850 kPa) is.
htotal = hf + D.F. (hfg)
Refering to the steam tables, at 850kPa
hf = 732.22 kJ/kg
hfg = 2039.4 kJ/kg
D.F. = 0.87
Substituting these into the formula, we get
htotal = 732.22 + (0.87)(2039.4)
htotal = 2506.498 kJ/kg
This is the heat content of the steam.
All of the figures in the steam tables are assuming that the steam is being created from water at 0C. In this
question however, the water is warmer than 0C. So we have to take that into account. Its heat we dont
have to add again.
From Table II we find that the water has an enthalpy of: 83.96 kJ/kg
We subtract this from the heat content of the steam and we get: 2422.538 kJ/kg
This is how much heat we have to add to 1 kg of water at 20C to produce 1 kg of steam at 850 kPa and 87%
dry.
Multiply by 200 to get your final answer: 484507.6 kJ/kg
Example 4:
Steam enters a turbine at 1100 kPa, dry and saturated. The steam is exhausted from the turbine at 361.3 kPa
and is 15% wet. Determine the quantity of heat used to do work in the turbine.
In this question, you need to determine the heat content of the steam entering the turbine and again when
it leaves the turbine. The dierence is the amount of heat used to do the work.
From the steam tables, for steam at 1100 kPa, dry and saturated,
hg = 2781.7 kJ/kg
Referring to Table II
For steam is at 361.3 kPa (or 140C) and 15% wet (85% dry)
hf = 589.13
hfg = 2144.7
Inserting these figures into the dryness fraction equation we get:
htotal = 589.13 + (0.85)(2144.7)
htotal = 2412.125 kJ/kg
Subtracting these two figures we get: 2781.7 - 2412.125 = 369.575 kJ/kg
Which is the amount of heat used to do work.