Air drier: Simple calculation using a psychrometric chart

A flow of 1800 m3 h-1 of air initially at a temperature of 18°C and 50% RH is fed in an air dryer. It is heated
to 140°C and passed over a set of trays in a shelf dryer, which it leaves at 60 % RH. It is then reheated to
140°C and passed over another set of trays which it leaves at 60 % RH again. Estimate the energy necessary
to heat the air and the quantity of water removed per hour.

Basics of psychrometry: Psychrometric chart

The various lines shown in the Figure are explained below.

1. Dry-bulb [DBT] temperature lines: DBT points are given on the x-axis. The vertical lines emerging from each DBT
point on the x-axis are DBT lines. It is the ambient temperature of the air.
2. Relative humidity [RH]: Steady RH is represented by the bent lines running from the base left to the upper right of
the graph. RH is the amount of water vapor present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for
saturation at the same temperature.
3. Humidity ratio: Humidity ratio is given on the humidity ratio-axis. It represents an air/moisture mixing ratio. Line
parallel to x-axis emerging from each point on the humidity ratio axis is the humidity ratio line [see the
psychrometric chart]. It is moisture in the air per unit weight of dry air.
4. Wet-bulb temperature [WBT] lines: WBT line emerges from the intersection of DBT and RH and goes along the
diagonal line. The point where this diagonal line intersects the saturation line is WBT. It is an indicator of moisture in
the air . WBT is the temperature of air if air gives off all its absorbed enthalpy [moisture] adiabatically and returns to
its initial RH.
5. Dew-point temperature [DPT] lines: DPT lines originate from humidity ratio points on the humidity ratio axis and
go parallel to the x-axis. The point where this line intersects the saturation line is DPT. The dew point is the
temperature to which air must be cooled to become saturated with water vapor. When further cooled, the water
vapor in the air will condense to form liquid water.
6. Enthalpy line: This is the extension of the WBT point along the diagonal. The point where the extension of WBT
intersects the enthalpy line is the enthalpy in the air for given DBT / RH / WBT. Enthalpy of moist air is sum of the
enthalpy of dry air and enthalpy of water vapor which is latent heat stored in water vapor.
Solution

Step - one
The air in: 1800 m3 h-1 DBT18/RH50
Humidity from humidity ratio axis = 0.0062 kg kg-1
Specific volume = 0.834 m3 kg-1 [See figures below DBT temperature on x-axix]
Enthalpy = 35 kJ kg-1
Step two [ Reheating one]
Air is heated to 140 degc at a constant humidity and passed over a set of trays in a shelf dryer
Enthalpy = 160 kJ kg-1
Step three
Hot air leaves trays at 60 % RH.
Proceeding along a wet-bulb line to an RH of 60% gives the corresponding temperature as 48°C and humidity at
0.045 kg kg-1.
Step four [Reheating two]
Reheating to 140°C keeping humidity constant
Enthalpy of reheated air = 268 kJ kg-1
Proceeding along a wet-bulb line to 60 % RH gives humidity of 0.082 kg kg-1.
Total energy supplied ∆H = [268 – 35] = 233 kJ kg-1
Total water removed = [0.082 - 0.0062] = 0.0758 kg kg-1[kg moisture / kg dry air]
1800 m3 of air per hour = 1800/0.834 [volume / specific volume]
= 2158 kg h-1
= 0.6 kg s-1