Drying potential of humid air - A thermodynamical analysis

Abstract

Theoretical analysis of thermodynamical potentials relevant for water vapour transfer processes in the system: wet material - moist air, performed in the paper, leads to the conclusion that maximal possible isothermal decrease of chemical potential of water vapour in the moist air might be considered as the measure of humid air afinity to unbound water vapour. The concept developed provides better estimation or the drying ability of humid air of different states, as well as tracing lines of equal values of humid air drying potential into psychrometric charts and constructing several new types of diagrams for convective drying processes in which air is used as the drying medium.