Related Resources: heat transfer

Water Vapor Released by Humans

Heat Transfer Engineering
Thermodynamics

Water Vapor Released by Human Activity and Plants

Estimating moisture loads requires knowledge of occupancy patterns and releases per individual, activity, plant, and water surface present. In most cases, the real occupancy is unknown, and the sources are even more difficult to quantify. Some activities in the same classification differ in the amount of vapor released (e.g., cooking, which varies with the type of meals prepared). Literature sources only give global average numbers and should therefore be used with care and understanding of the implicit assumptions.

Source
Units
Release, x 103
Humans Light activity
lb/h
66-130
Humans Medium activity
lb/h
270-440
Humans Hard work
lb/h
440-660
Bathroom Bath
(15 min)
lb
130
Bathroom Shower
(15 min)
lb
1460
Breakfast preparation
for 4 people
lb
350-600
Lunch preparation for 4 people
lb
550-710
Dinner preparation for 4 people
lb
1210-1590
Breakfast dish washing for 4 people
lb
220
Lunch dish washing for 4 people
lb
150
Dinner dish washing for 4 people
lb
680
Simmering pot (diameter 5.9 in., 10 min)
lb
130
Boiling pot (diameter 5.9 in., 10 min)
lb
570
Potted flowers
lb/h per pot
5-20
Potted plants
lb/h per pot
7-30
Laundry
Already spin-dried, until dry
lb/h
40-440
Dripping wet, until dry
lb/h
220-11001
Unvented drier, until dry
lb/h
4700-6390

Sources:

IEA-ECB (1990),
Kumaran and Sanders (2008),
Sanders (1996),
Ten- Wolde and Walker (2001).

Related:

References:

Dow Chemical (2001b)