10/30/2014

Density of Dry Air, Water Vapor and Moist Humid Air

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Density of Dry Air, Water Vapor and Moist Humid Air

Calculate the density of dry air, water vapor or the mixture of air and water vapor - moist or humid air
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The density of air varies as the temperature and moisture content in the air varies. When the temperature increases the higher molecular motion results in an expansion of the volume and thus decreasing the density.
The density of a gas, either it is dry air, water vapor or a mixture of dry air and water vapor - moist or humid air, can be calculated on basis of the Ideal Gas Law.

Density of Dry Air

The density of dry air can be expressed as:
a = 0.0035 pa / T

(1)

where
a = density dry air (kg/m3)
pa = partial pressure of air (Pa, N/m2)
T = absolute dry bulb temperature (K)

Density of Water Vapor

The density of water vapor can be expressed as:
w = 0.0022 pw / T

(2)

where
pw = partial pressure water vapor (Pa, N/m2)
w = density water vapor (kg/m3)
T = absolute dry bulb temperature (K)

Density of Moist Air - an Air Vapor Mixture

The amount of water vapor in air influences density. Water vapor is a relatively light gas compared to diatomic Oxygen and diatomic Nitrogen - the dominant components in air.
When water vapor content increases in the moist air the amount of Oxygen and Nitrogen decreases per unit volume and the density decreases because the mass is decreasing.
Dry air is more dense that humid air!
Based on the specific volume of moist air density can be expressed as:
=1/v
= (p / Ra T) (1 + x) / (1 + x Rw / Ra)

(3)

where
v = specific volume of moist air per mass unit of dry air and water vapor (m3/kg)
Ra = 286.9 - the individual gas constant air (J/kg K)
Rw = 461.5 - the individual gas constant water vapor (J/kg K)
x = specific humidity or humidity ratio (kg/kg)
p = pressure in the humid air (Pa)
Density of dry air can be expressed as:
da = p / Ra T

(4)

where
da = density dry air (kg/m3)
Combining (4) and (3):
= da (1 + x) / (1 + x Rw / Ra)

(5)

The gas constant ratio between water vapor and air is

Rw / Ra = (461.5 J/kg K) / (286.9 J/kg K)
= 1.609
Inserting the ratio in (5):
= da (1 + x) / (1 + 1.609 x )

(6)

Note! As we can see from (6) increased moisture content will reduce the density of the moist air - Dry air is more dense than moist air.

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Related Topics
Air Psychrometrics - The study of moist and humid air - air condition - psychrometric charts, Mollier diagrams, air temperature, absolute and relative humidity, moisture content and more
Gas and Compressed Air - Gas properties, capacities of pipelines, sizing of relief valves - air, LNG, LPG and more

Related Documents
Densities and Specific Volumes of Dry Air and Water Vapor - Densities and specific volumes of dry air and water vapor at temperatures ranging 225 to 900 degF (107 to 482 degC)
Water Vapor - Weight in Air - Weight of water vapor in air
Humid Air and the Ideal Gas Law - The Ideal Gas Law relating pressure, temperature, and volume of an ideal or perfect gas used for air with water vapor - or moist air
Air Composition - Dry air is a mechanical mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and more
Humidity Ratio of Air - Humidity ratio (GPP) is the ratio between actual mass of water vapor present in moist air - to the mass of dry air
Specific Volume of Moist Air - Specific volume is defined as the total volume of humid air per mass unit of dry air

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Density of Dry Air, Water Vapor and Moist Humid Air

Density of Moist Air - Density of moist air - pressure ranging 75 - 1000 mm Hg

Molecular Mass of Air - Dry air is a mixture of gases where the molecular weight can be calculated by adding the weight of each component
Water Vapor and Saturation Pressure in Humid Air - The saturation pressure of water vapor in moist air varies with temperature

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Density of Dry Air, Water Vapor and Moist Humid Air

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