In the Tech Data series on thermal conductivity, gases – especially air – have been the subject of a few contributions. So far, the influence of two important parameters has been covered: temperature and pressure. However, people regularly ask: “What exactly is the influence of humidity?” And my standard answer has always been: “Nothing to worry about.”
Some time ago, one of my colleagues (Nelis Mies, Philips Lighting) approached me with the same question, and I sent him an old graph proving more or less my standard answer. However, he was not completely satisfied and found software that could create the desired graphs1. The software employs kinetic theory describing a mixture of two gases; in this case, atmospheric air and water vapor. Figure 1 shows some interesting results.
Figure 1. As moisture content increases, the thermal conductivity decreases.
The strange shapes of the curves were rather surprising. With increasing moisture content the thermal conductivity decreases, contrary to what I expected. Three effects play a role: the thermal conductivity of dry air, the thermal conductivity of water vapor, and the humidity of the air. It appears that the thermal conductivity of water vapor is lower than that of air.
An explanation is given by the rigid-sphere theory of gases, stating that the thermal conductivity is proportional to the specific heat (cv) and inversely proportional to the square of the diameter (d) of the molecule. While water vapor has a higher cv than dry air, d is somewhat larger, resulting in a somewhat smaller thermal conductivity at the same temperature (at room temperature: 0.018 vs. 0.025 W/m�K).
With increasing temperature the mole fraction of water vapor increases, as well as the thermal conductivity of dry air. The three effects create the strange shapes. Luckily for me, my standard answer still holds: Nothing to worry about, except when you are after maximum accuracy and all other sources of uncertainty are being addressed at the same time.
1 @Air from Techware
Rex Breunsbach says
Do you have any data for temperaures above 100C?
Nelis Mies says
Dear Rex,
It appearedd that I posed the same question to the makers of @Air.
Here is there answer:
Dear Nelis Mies,
“Relative humidity measures the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the maximum amount that the air can absorb at a given temperature. Since the boiling point of water is about 100 deg C at atmospheric pressure, air can hold an unlimited amount of water vapor above that temperature and so relative humidity is undefined.
You are probably starting with air at some lower temperature and heating it. I suggest that you calculate the humidity ratio in the cooler air using the temperature and relative humidity. Then calculate the properties at higher temperatures using the humidity ratio calculated at the lower temperature. This will work because heating the air does not change the humidity ratio. If you are actually adding moisture to the air, then you must calculate a new humidity ratio and use that value to calculate the properties at the higher temperatures. The program will accept temperatures up to 2000 deg K.”
Best regards
Nelis
samir says
Can any one help?
How i can calculate the thermal conductivity of mix air with water air ratio up to 10% and air temperature up to 1000K.
Many thanks
Samir
Brad says
“This will work because heating the air does not change the humidity ratio.” -@Air
Important to note that when he says “humidity ratio” he is refering to specific humidity – not relative humidity.
I am assuming the legend in figure 1 refers to relative humidity.
Aubrey Jaffer says
The humidity in the graph must be relative humidity because 100% specific humidity doesn’t exist at temperatures below 100 oC.