Saturated and Superheated Steam

Saturated water contains enough heat that if the temperature remains constant, and the pressure decreases, it will boil.

Saturated steam (a.k.a. dry saturated steam) has just enough heat to remain in a gaseous state. If saturated steam has some heat removed, or, is placed under pressure, it will condense proportionately.

Simply put:

  • Saturated water contains the maximum amount of heat it can hold at a given pressure without beginning to change state to a gas.
  • Saturated steam contains the minimum amount of heat it can hold at a given pressure without beginning to change state to a liquid.

If more heat is added to steam after it reaches its saturation temperature (boiling point), the steam is said to be a superheated steam. Power generation industry turbines requires super-heated steam.

The term supersaturated steam refers to steam that has values (temperature, pressure etc.) greater than those indicated in steam tables.

 

Additional Resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheated_steam

https://www.tlv.com/global/ME/steam-theory/types-of-steam.html

https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/1005/saturated-steam