Est.

1978

Technical Bulletin 3

Dehumidification and the

Psychrometric Chart
I NTRODUCTION R ELATIVE HUMIDITY
The psychrometric chart has been well documented in a wide Relative humidity is a misapplied term. It is often used in
variety of technical textbooks and journals. This technical bulletin place of absolute humidity. The key is the word “relative.” To
will not attempt to cover the chart in detail, but, will highlight understand this concept, a law of nature must be Reviewed.
those features of the chart which apply to refrigerant type Air is a compressible fluid and its volume is represented by
dehumidification applications. It will define the terms which the following equation:
form the nucleus of properly applying a dehumidifier.
v=K(T/P)
T HE CHART
V = Volume
Figure 1 shows a typical psychrometric chart. Dry Bulb T = Temperature
temperatures are shown on the chart as vertical lines. The P = Pressure
horizontal lines represent Dew Point temperatures. Lines K = Constant

49
14.5 CU. FT.

representing Wet Bulb temperatures are the straight diagonal

48
85 90 95 100 105
180
47
lines sloping downward from left to right.
46

170
45
44

The curve forming the top edge of the chart is called the
43

160
B)

80

“saturation curve”. Air in a condition that falls on any point

42
/L
TU
41

150
(B

along this curve is totally saturated with moisture. Any additional

40
N
TIO
39
RA

140
moisture added could not be absorbed and would remain in a

Dry Bulb Temperatures

TU
38
SA

75

liquid state as condensation.

37
AT

130
PY
36
AL
TH

35

120
EN

The sweeping curved lines that follow the saturation curve are
34

RH
33

70

relative humidity lines expressed as percentages. These

90

110

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

32

RH
31

lines represent the degree of volume displaced

%
80

100
30

RH

by moisture with Respect to the

%
29

65

70

We 90
tB
28
26

RH

total air volume. u lb

%
27

60
25

Te
mp 80
24

60

t RH e ra
y

di
%
23

e i
50 tur
rv m es 70
22

Cu55 Hu RH
21

on ve
%
40
ti i
lat
18

60
20

a
Figure 1 ur0 Re
17

at 5
19

S RH
16

% 50
30
15

45
14
12

40
40 RH
11

13

20%
10

12

35 30
9

30
8

25 H
10% R 20
7

Dew Point Temperatures

10

0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105

12.5 CU. FT. 13.0 CU. FT. DRY BULB °F 13.5 CU. FT. 14.0 CU. FT.
 As the air temperature increases, its total volume increases This is important to understand because water damage
and decreases on reduction of temperature. Pressure has the occurs at an absolute humidity concentration regardless of its
opposite effect. As pressure increases volume decreases. relative humidity. This is known as the constant Dew Point
Temperature.
Water, however, is not compressible. Therefore given a specific
amount, it will always occupy the same amount of volume. S ENSIBLE AND LATENT HEATING AND COOLING
Figure 2 illustrates how this applies to the psychrometric
There are four types of energy changes when heat of moisture
chart. As moisture laden air is heated or cooled the air volume
is added or removed. Sensible heat occurs when heat is
changes but the moisture does not. Thus there is a change in
added without the addition or reduction of moisture. Sensible
relative humidity, without a change in actual water content.
cooling is the reverse. Latent heat, also known as humidification,
is the addition of moisture without changing the dry bulb tem-
perature. Latent cooling or dehumidification is the removal of
moisture. Figure 3 shows how these are displayed on the chart.

49
14.5 CU. FT.

48
85 90 95 100 105
180

47
92°F
46
70°F 78°F 44
45 170
43

160
B)

80
42
/L
TU
41

150
(B
40
N
IO
AT

39

140
R
TU
38

80% RH
SA

75

60% RH
37
AT

130
40% RH
Y
36
A LP
TH

35

120
EN
34

80
RH
33

70

%
90

110

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

32

60
RH
31

%
80

100
30

RH
%

88 GR.
29

65

70

90
28
26

RH

70°F 78°F 92°F

%
27

60
25

80
24

60

RH
%
23

50
70
%
22

Figure 2 55
RH
40
21

%
40
18

60
20
17

50
19

RH
16

% 50
30
15

45
14
12

40
40 RH
11

13

20%
10

12

35 30
9

30
8

25 H
10% R 20
7

10

0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105

12.5 CU. FT. 13.0 CU. FT. DRY BULB °F 13.5 CU. FT. 14.0 CU. FT.
 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 3
Dehumidification and the Psychrometric Chart

Rarely will these occur as shown but will rather be a mixture By obtaining the starting and finishing grains per pound, the
of them. A refrigerant dehumidification system is a combination amount of moisture to be removed can be calculated. The
of sensible and latent cooling and sensible heating. First the amount of moisture to be removed is the difference between
system cools the air to reduce the dry bulb temperature to the these two values known as GR.
dew point. Then latent cooling reduces the absolute humidity
and finally the air is reheated increasing its dry bulb temperature. Figure 5 shows how a dehumidification system was sized. The
Figure 4 graphs this process. ambient design was 91°F dry bulb and 78°F wet bulb. The
desired indoor value was 80°F dry bulb and 50% relative
D EHUMIDIFIER SIZING humidity. The outside ambient has a moisture content of 124
grains and the indoor design has 78 grains. Thus the required
To properly apply a dehumidification system, the amount of moisture removal rate is 124-78 = 46 grains per pound of dry air.
moisture to be removed must be calculated. For most applications
the only information available is the dry bulb and relative
humidity or dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures. The psy-
chrometric chart is used to plot these two values by finding
their intersection and then following the horizontal line to the
right to determine the moisture content in grains per pound.

49
14.5 CU. FT.

48
85 90 95 100 105
180

47
46

170
45
44
43

160
B)

80
42
/L
TU
41

150
(B
40
N

Figure 3
IO
AT

39

140
R
TU
38
SA

C
75
37
AT

A. Sensible Heating 130

Y
36
A LP

B. Sensible Cooling
TH

35

120
EN
34

C. Humidification B A
RH
33

70

%
90

110
D. Dehumidification

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

32

RH
31

%
80

100
30

RH
%
29

65

70

90
28
26

RH

D
%
27

60
25

80
24

60

RH
%
23

50
70
22

55
RH
21

%
40
18

60
20
17

50
19

RH
16

% 50
30
15

45
14
12

40
40 RH
11

13

20%
10

12

35 30
9

30
8

25 H
10% R 20
7

10

0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105

12.5 CU. FT. 13.0 CU. FT. DRY BULB °F 13.5 CU. FT. 14.0 CU. FT.
Figure 4

49
14.5 CU. FT.

48
85 90 95 100 105
180

47
46
170

QT = Total Cooling A-B

45
44
43
160

QS = Sensible Cooling C-B

B)

80
42
/L
TU
41
150

(B
QL = Latent Cooling A-C

40
N
TIO
39
RA
140

WA = Specific Humidity A (room air)

TU
38
SA

75
37
AT
130

PY
WB = Specific Humidity C (supply air)

36
AL
TH
QL

35
120

EN
34
T = Total Temperature Rise B-D

RH
33

70

%
90
110

QT

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

32
GR = WA-WB

RH
A Entering Air WA

31

%
80
100

30

RH
%
29

65

70
QS
90

28
26

RH
%
27

60
25
80 ∆GR

24

60
RH
%

23
50
70

22
55
RH D

21
%
40
18

60

20
B C Reheated WB
17

50

19 Leaving RH Air (Supply)

16

% 50
30
Evaporator
15

45
Coil
14
12

40
40 RH
11

13

20%
10

12

35 30
9

30
8

25
10% RH 20
7

10

0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105

12.5 CU. FT. 13.0 CU. FT. DRY BULB °F 13.5 CU. FT. 14.0 CU. FT.
∆T

49
14.5 CU. FT.

48
85 90 95 100 105
180

47
Figure 5 46
170
45
44
43

160
B)

80
42
/L

LBS/HR = 4.5 x CFM x GR

TU
41

150
(B
40
N
TIO
39

7000
RA

140
TU
38
SA

75
37
AT

130
PY

91°F DB/78°F WB WA
36
AL
TH

4.5 = Constant
35

120
EN
34

RH
33

70

CFM = Total Air Volume

%
90

110

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

32

RH

∆GR
31

%
80

GR = WA-WB 100
30

RH
%
29

65

70

7000 = 7000 GR/LB Air

90
28
26

RH
%
27

60
25

%
50 80
24

60

H
%
R 80°F DB WB
50
23

70
22

55
RH
21

%
40
18

60
20
17

50
19

RH
16

% 50
30
15

45
14
12

40
40 RH
11

13

20%
10

12

35 30
9

30
8

25
10% RH 20
7

10

0
20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105

12.5 CU. FT. 13.0 CU. FT. DRY BULB °F 13.5 CU. FT. 14.0 CU. FT.

OPTIMIZING SOLUTIONS THROUGH SUPERIOR DEHUMIDIFICATION TECHNOLOGY

N120 W18485 Friestadt Road, Germantown, WI 53022 sales@desert-aire.com

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