Air Conditioning Processes

Basic Theory
Air-conditioning is a process of treating air for the comfort requirements of
the occupants in the conditioned space. The properties of air can be
modified by undergoing certain thermodynamic processes. The most basic
of processes involved in an air-conditioning system are simple heating,
steam humidification, simple cooling and dehumidification. The analysis
of air conditioning processes are normally conducted with the help of
psychometric chart.

Heating process increased the temperature of the air passing through the

air conditioning unit. The process can be represented as a horizontal left-
to-right line in the psychometric chart.

Cooling process will decreased the temperature of the air passing through

the air conditioning unit. On the psychometric chart the process is
represented as a horizontal left-to-right line indicating decreasing air
temperature.

Humidifying process will add more moisture into the air. When humidifying
process is performed using steam, the process represented on the
psychometric chart is a diagonal line staring from left-to-right with
increasing gradient.

Dehumidifying process will remove moisture in the air. In domestic air

conditioning system, dehumidifying process is performed by cooling the air
down to dew point. The moisture in the air will condense and leaves the air
stream.

The humidity in atmospheric air can be measure by using a dry bulb and
wet bulb thermometers set-up and the humidity can be calculate with the
help of a psychometric chart.

EQUIPMENT
Air Conditioning Laboratory Unit (P A Hilton A660 Air Conditioning
Laboratory Unit)

Figure 1. Schematic of P A Hilton Air conditioning Laboratory Unit A660.

 YOUR TASKS
1. Understand the laboratory equipment.
2. Formulate your experiment objectives the present to your instructor.
3. Plan your experiment procedures and then present to your instructor.
4. Execute and run your experiment according to the procedures after
getting the approval from your instructor.
5. Collect the experiment data.
6. Analyze and write the experiment report.
7. Submit the experiment report with in the agreed time frame.

Refer to chapter “GAS-VAPOR MIXTURES AND AIR-

CONDITIONING” in Thermodynamics: An Engineering
Approach Transfer textbook.