Höyrystö

Höyrystö is a Finnish term used in physics and engineering to denote vaporization, the transformation of a substance from a liquid to a gaseous phase. In technical contexts it can refer to the overall process as well as to the vapor that is produced. The concept covers two main mechanisms: evaporation, which occurs at the liquid surface at temperatures below the boiling point, and boiling, which happens when the vapor pressure inside the liquid equals the surrounding pressure and bubbles form within the liquid.

In thermodynamics, höyrystö requires energy input in the form of latent heat of vaporization. The rate of vaporization depends on factors such as temperature difference, surface area, pressure, and the presence of impurities. Vapor pressure increases with temperature and, for pure liquids, defines the boiling point at a given pressure. In mixtures, boiling behavior can be more complex due to interactions between components.

Applications of höyrystö are widespread in industry and technology. Evaporation and controlled vaporization are central to distillation processes, concentration of solutions, and drying operations. In refrigeration and air conditioning, the evaporator is the component where the working fluid vaporizes. In power generation and industrial chemistry, vaporization is integral to steam cycles and many separation or purification techniques.

See also: evaporation, boiling, phase transition, latent heat. While the term is Finnish, its core ideas align with the general physical concept of vaporization observed across scientific disciplines.