Is there a difference between water vapor and wet steam?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the differences between water vapor and wet steam, focusing on their definitions, properties, and states. Participants examine the conditions under which each exists and the implications of vapor quality.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that both water vapor and wet steam contain tiny droplets of water particles, questioning whether they are essentially the same.
  • Others argue that wet steam is defined by its vapor quality (X), indicating that it is not superheated and falls within a specific range (0
  • It is noted that water vapor is a gaseous state and not merely tiny droplets, which some participants clarify as a distinction from wet steam.
  • One participant points out that vapor can refer to various forms of steam (wet, saturated, super-saturated) depending on the vapor quality or dryness fraction.
  • There is a discussion about the visibility of vapor and steam, with some claiming that standard definitions state vapor is visible in a white form while steam is transparent.
  • Another participant challenges the notion that wet steam contains suspended liquid particles in a gaseous form, emphasizing the contradiction in that description.
  • Clarifications are made regarding the conditions under which water vapor can exist, particularly at atmospheric pressure and below saturation temperature, and how this relates to the formation of wet steam.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definitions and characteristics of water vapor and wet steam, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without consensus.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the definitions of vapor and steam, particularly concerning their visibility and the conditions under which they exist. The discussion also reflects varying interpretations of vapor quality and its implications.

M.Kalai vanan
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Both water vapor and wet steam contain both contain tiny droplets of water particles(correct me if I'm wrong).Does it mean both water vapor and wet steam are same and one ?
 
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Not necessarily. You have to solve for vapour quality (X) and check what state your fluid is in.

X=mvapor/mtotal
Wet steam - generally means that it's not "superheated" - meaning that 0<x<1
 
Water vapor is gaseous, it is not just tiny droplets.
 
@ russ_watters
The so is wet steam containing suspended liquid particles in gaseous form.Can you please be more specific ?
 
@ ksukhin
So, you say that vapor doesn't mean particularly wet steam but can refer to all three forms of steam (wet, saturated, super-saturated ) depending on the vapor quality or dryness fraction.
If so then if vapor exists in saturated and supersaturated states then they would be transparent (invisible to human eyes).But the standard definition of vapor states that it is visible in white form while steam in transparent in nature
watch this link
 
M.Kalai vanan said:
@ russ_watters
The so is wet steam containing suspended liquid particles in gaseous form.Can you please be more specific ?
Suspended liquid particles are liquid particles (as the description says), they are not in gaseous form: what you said is a self-contradiction.

A gas is when no two molecules are connected to each other. A liquid is when a lot of molecules are stuck together.

Unfortunately, the Mr. Wizard video is wrong (though correct that the colloquial label is also wrong). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam
 
@ russ_watters
So you say that water that evaporates from open or other sources at atmospheric conditions is water vapor(invisible to human eyes) and as they move upwards they condense to form clouds, containing suspended liquid droplets and is called wet steam.
If water vapor at atmospheric pressure and below saturation temperature (or at saturation temperature and lower pressure) contains suspended liquid droplets it is known as wet steam and if it doesn't contain liquid droplets and only plain gas then it is called water vapor.
 
M.Kalai vanan said:
@ russ_watters
So you say that water that evaporates from open or other sources at atmospheric conditions is water vapor(invisible to human eyes) and as they move upwards they condense to form clouds, containing suspended liquid droplets and is called wet steam.
Yes.
If water vapor at atmospheric pressure and below saturation temperature (or at saturation temperature and lower pressure) contains suspended liquid droplets it is known as wet steam...
That's not a stable situation because water vapor can't exist at atomspheric pressure and below saturation (boiling) temperature, but yes, some of it condenses into wet steam...which then also evaporates as it disperses.
...and if it doesn't contain liquid droplets and only plain gas then it is called water vapor.
Yes, plain gaseous water is water vapor or dry steam.
 

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