Unit-4

Lecture 1
Introduction to terms used in
Psychrometry

Ankit Saxena
• Psychrometry is the study of the properties of mixtures of air
and water vapour (Moist Air) and its behaviour under different
conditions.
• Properties of Moist air includes Dry-bulb Temperature (DBT),
Wet-bulb Temperature (WBT), humidity. Relative Humidity (RH). etc.
• The air to be processed in air conditioning systems is a
mixture of dry air and water vapour. While the composition of
dry air is constant, the amount of water vapour present in
the air may vary from zero to a maximum depending upon the
temperature and pressure of the mixture (dry air + water
vapour).
• At a given temperature and pressure the dry air can only hold
a certain maximum amount of moisture. When the moisture
content is maximum, then the air is known as saturated air.
• For calculation purposes, the molecular weight of water
vapour is taken as 18.015 and its gas constant is 461.52
J/kg.K.
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 Psychrometric Terms
Dry-Bulb Temperature (DBT): It is the temperature of air measured by an
ordinary thermometer.
It is denoted by – Td b

Wet-Bulb Temperature (WBT): It is the temperature measured by a

thermometer when the bulb is covered by a wetted wick and exposed to a
current of moving air at a velocity 2.5 to l0 m/s.
It is denoted by – Twb

Dew Point Temperature (DPT)

It is the temperature of air recorded by a thermometer when the moisture
present in it starts condensing. It is denoted by Tdp or DPT.

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Consider that a certain sample of unsaturated moist air shown by state A in given
figure, is cooled at constant pressure slowly by passing over the cooling coil. Its
temperature goes on decreasing till it reaches a temperature DPT, at which the first
drop of dew will be formed. It means that the water vapour in the air starts
condensing.
The DPT (saturated temperature) can be found from the steam table
corresponding to the partial pressure of water vapour pv.
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 Humidity Ratio (Specific Humidity)
It is the ratio of mass of water vapour to the mass of dry air contained in
the sample air. It is denoted by w. It is normally expressed in g/kg of
dry air.
w = mass of water vapour in air/mass of dry air in air
= mv/ma
Let pa, va, T, ma and Ra be the pressure, specific volume, DBT in K, mass
and gas constant respectively.
Let pv, vv, T, mv and Rv be the pressure, specific volume, DBT in K, mass
and gas constant respectively.
Using equation
pv = mRT

For dry air For Water vapour

pava = maRaT pvvv = mvRvT

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As air and water vapour have the same volume and temperature, we get
pv m R
 v v
pa ma Ra

Que1

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2. Find the absolute humidity of the air sample which has a dew point temperature of
16°C.

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Relative humidity is measured in percentage. It has great influence on evaporation of water
in the air and therefore on the comfort of human beings.
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