Saturated steam
Encyclopedia
In thermodynamics
, the state of saturation of a fluid indicates that the fluid is at its boiling point
temperature. This term can be applied in several ways:
For example, a saturated steam is steam
at equilibrium
with liquid water
. It defines the boundary between wet steam and superheated steam
on the temperature-enthalpy diagram.
Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics is a physical science that studies the effects on material bodies, and on radiation in regions of space, of transfer of heat and of work done on or by the bodies or radiation...
, the state of saturation of a fluid indicates that the fluid is at its boiling point
Boiling point
The boiling point of an element or a substance is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid equals the environmental pressure surrounding the liquid....
temperature. This term can be applied in several ways:
- Saturated liquid: fully in the liquid state but is about to vaporize.
- Saturated liquid-vapor mixture: liquid and vapor coexist.
- Saturated vapor: fully in the vapor state but about to condense.
For example, a saturated steam is steam
Steam
Steam is the technical term for water vapor, the gaseous phase of water, which is formed when water boils. In common language it is often used to refer to the visible mist of water droplets formed as this water vapor condenses in the presence of cooler air...
at equilibrium
Vapor-liquid equilibrium
Vapor–liquid equilibrium is a condition where a liquid and its vapor are in equilibrium with each other, a condition or state where the rate of evaporation equals the rate of condensation on a molecular level such that there is no net vapor-liquid interconversion...
with liquid water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
. It defines the boundary between wet steam and superheated steam
Superheated steam
Superheated steam is steam at a temperature higher than water's boiling point. If saturated steam is heated at constant pressure, its temperature will also remain constant as the steam quality increases towards 100% Dry Saturated Steam. Continued heat input will then generate superheated steam...
on the temperature-enthalpy diagram.