Case Studies of Coupled Heat and Moisture Diffusion in Wool Beds

Abstract

The predictions from a previously developed mathematical model for coupled heat and moisture diffusion in beds of hygroscopic fibers have been tested against experimental observations on wool bales and wool fabrics. The experiments on wool bales were concerned with the changes in regain and temperature consequent upon changes in the relative humidity and temperature of the surrounding air. The experiments on fabrics included measurements of temperature and regain during Hoffman pressing and measurements of heat flow through the fabric during changes in regain. Satisfactory agreement was found between the predictions from the model and the experimental observations.