When heat is added to steam without increasing the moisture content, what is the steam called?

When heat is added to steam without increasing the moisture content, the steam is referred to as superheated steam. This process involves heating the steam beyond its saturation point, meaning that it exists in a gaseous state with no liquid water present. Superheated steam is utilized in various applications where higher temperatures are required, such as in power generation and certain industrial processes.

The key characteristic of superheated steam is that it does not contain any moisture; as a result, it can reach higher temperatures than saturated steam without condensing. This property makes it particularly useful for efficiently transferring energy and reducing corrosion that can occur with the presence of water.

In contrast, wicking refers to the ability of materials to draw moisture away, which is unrelated to the steam itself. Dry heat typically refers to heating without moisture but does not specifically describe the state of steam. Superheated saturated steam, on the other hand, would imply that the steam is both superheated and saturated, which contradicts the principle of having no liquid present in the steam. Thus, the correct terminology for steam that has been heated without an increase in moisture content is superheated steam.