An Alternative Approach to the Inversion Temperature

Abstract

Above a given temperature, referred to as the inversion temperature, superheated steam is a more effective drying agent than humid air or even than dry air. However, no agreement has been reached in what concerns the definition of both the inversion temperature and its numerical value. Recent works attempted to clarify the different definitions of the inversion temperature, taking into account the obtained different numerical values. In this work, some of the ideas presented recently are developed and worked out in such a way that new graphical presentations of data are obtained, leading to a better understanding of the inversion temperature and of its value. The issues concerning the influence of the steam content of the drying agent on the evaporation rate, for different drying conditions and for a given inlet temperature of the drying agent, are clarified. The present results provide useful information on what concerns the influence of the convective drying conditions and parameters over the evaporation rate.

Keywords:

• Inversion temperature
• Superheated steam drying
• Optimum operating conditions