Method and device for determining the moisture content of a gas stream

A method for determining the difference in enthalpy that occurs when a gas stream loaded with water vapor is cooled to a temperature below the dew point temperature, comprising:

• using a gas cooler with an electrical cooling element to reduce the temperature of at least a portion of the gas stream,
• measuring properties of the at least a portion of the gas stream upstream and downstream of the gas cooler;
• sensing an amount of electrical power used by the electrical cooling element to reduce the temperature of the at least a portion of the gas stream;
• and
• using the sensed amount of electrical power, in connection with the measured properties of the gas stream, to determine the difference in enthalpy between the inlet gas stream and outlet gas stream.

A gas cooler for determining one of the difference in enthalpy which occurs when a gas stream loaded with water vapor is cooled to a temperature below its dew point temperature, and the water vapor content of the gas stream, comprising:

• a gas cooler having an inlet port for receiving a gas stream and an outlet port for outputting a gas stream, a condensate port for discharging condensate, and an electrical cooling element the power draw of which is capable of being monitored,
• at least one measuring device provided in the vicinity of the inlet port to detect state parameters of the inlet gas stream;
• at least one measuring device provided in the vicinity of the outlet port to detect state parameters of the outlet gas stream;
• a measuring device to detect an electrical power draw of the cooling element, and
• an evaluation device in which the measured electrical power draw is used in connection with the detected state parameters at the inlet port and outlet port to evaluate at least one of the difference in enthalpy between the inlet port and the outlet port, and the water vapor content of the gas stream.