[Physics] Heat Losses from water pan due to vaporisation before boiling

diffusionevaporationthermodynamicswater

I'm studying heat transfer from an electric heater to a cooking pan (Stainless steel) filled with water; specifically, my problem is related to water vaporisation, as I've already found good models to predict radiative and convection losses.
The point is that vaporisation losses are easy to calculate after the water reaches the boiling point, as mass of water vaporised times enthalpy of vaporisation of water at atmospheric pressure (which is 2257 kJ/kg). But what happens before boiling?
My experiments show that a considerable amount of water already evaporates starting from a temperature of 70°C. In fact, it is well known that water evaporates even at ambient temperature due to mass diffusion, and as the temperature increases the rate of evaporation is also increased.
But since the water is not saturated, I guess I cannot calculate this loss by means of any enthalpy of vaporisation. How should I calculate the heat removed from the pan by the water molecules escaping from the upper surface at temperatures lower than boiling?

Thank you very much

Best Answer

At the interface, the air is saturated with water vapor at the interface temperature. So you know the partial pressure of the water vapor at the interface (if you know the interface temperature). The water then diffuses into the room air above, where the bulk partial pressure of water is less than the saturation vapor pressure at the interface. There is also convective transport of the air away from the interface, and this air carries the water vapor away from the interface. So this has to be included in your model. There is a heat flux from the bulk of the water to the interface (i.e., at temperature gradient in the water below the interface), and there is a heat flux in the air above away from the interface. The difference between these two heat fluxes is equal to the heat of vaporization times the vaporization rate. There may also be natural convection currents in the water below the interface to enhance the rate of heat transfer. This is just a rough outline of what is happening, but all these things need to be considered in formulating a model of the heat and mass transfer in your system.