MEC 351 : REFRIGERATION &

AIR CONDITIONING
Chapter 2 : Psychrometry of Air-
conditioning
 Course Description
• This course is the application of the
fundamentals studied in thermodynamics.
Considerable emphasis is placed on the
understanding and application of the first
and second laws of thermodynamics in
refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.
The topics include refrigeration,
fundamentals of air-conditioning, air-
conditioning design considerations, air
transmission and distribution, control
aspects, and case studies.
 Course Outcome
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Apply the theoretical aspects of thermodynamics
systems related to refrigeration and air-
conditioning [PO4, LO2]{C3}.
• Demonstrate practical aspects of refrigeration and
air-conditioning and apply them accordingly
[PO2, LO2]{ C3}
• Identify methods to increase efficiency and
reduce air-conditioning cost [PO4,LO2]{C1}
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

2.0 Psychrometry of Air-

conditioning Processes (4 hours)

a) • Introduction to Air Conditioning Comfort

and work productivity.
b) • Differences between human comfort and
process control air conditioning.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
• Upon completion of this chapter, you should
know:

a) Fundamental of thermal comfort and how it

affects the work productivity
b) Relation of thermal comfort and air
conditioning control
c) Determination of relative humadity, specific
humidity, dry bulb temperature, wet bulb
temperature and the use of psychrometric chart.
d) The application of psychrometric chart and
equations behind its principle.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

What is thermal comfort?

Thermal comfort is condition of mind which

expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

Click to see video about thermal comfort

 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

In easy words, thermal comfort is the satisfactory

heat condition.

You will satisfy if:

1. Not too hot

2. Not too cold
3. Good ventilation (not too windy)
4. Good air quality
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

To maintain Thermal Comfort is our GOAL in air-

conditioning system.
Main factors of affecting thermal comfort are:
1. Air temperature
2. Air speed
3. Relative humidity
4. Human metabolic rate
5. Clothing insulation
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

Air Temperature

 The air temperature is the average temperature of

the air surrounding the occupant, with respect to
location and time.
 Air temperature is measured with a dry-bulb
thermometer and for this reason it is also
known as dry-bulb temperature
 Most of the time range of 22°C to 24°C
(Actually it depends on situation)
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

Air speed

 Air speed is defined as the rate of air movement

at a point, without regard to direction.
 Recommended to have uniform air speed with
appropriate cooling effect.
 Too high or too low will give discomfort to
occupants.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

Relative humidity
 Relative humidity (RH) is the ratio of the amount of
water vapor in the air to the amount of water vapor that the
air could hold at the specific temperature and pressure.
 Higher RH, lesser evaporation, lesser heat removal from
the body. Hence, body feels hot!!! (Tropical climate,
MALAYSIA…)
 Too low of RH will affect your mucous membranes (may
result to flu, throat pain, respiratory problem, etc. During
winter)
 Good range varies with the situation. 30%-60% is widely
accepted as good RH range.
2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

Relative humidity

High RH, you will

become like him!!!
2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

Relative humidity
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

How A/C controls thermal comfort?

 If environment is hot, A/C will cool(reject heat) from the
room.
 If environment is cold, A/C will heat (give heat) to the
room.
 If environment is too humid(High RH), A/C will
dehumidify the air in the room
 If environment is too dry(Low RH), A/C will humidify
the air in the room.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Terminologies & Formulae
Atmospheric air: Air in the atmosphere containing some water
vapour (or moisture).

Dry air: Air that contains no water vapor.

The energy content in dry air is
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Terminologies & Formulae
Water vapour in air is in the superheated form
behaves as if it existed alone obeys the ideal-gas relation
Pv= R.T

Then, we can treat the atmospheric air as an ideal-gas

mixture (dry air + vapour).
Thus,

Pa and Pv are the partial pressures of each component

 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Terminologies & Formulae
The amount of water vapour in air varies & can be expressed in many
ways.
Specific humidity (humidity ratio): The ratio of mass of water vapour
present in a unit mass of dry air.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Terminologies & Formulae
Relative humidity φ: The ratio of the amount of moisture the air
holds (mv ) to the maximum amount of moisture the air can hold at
the same temperature (mg ).
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Terminologies & Formulae
Then we combine specific and relative humidity,
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Terminologies & Formulae
• The amount of dry air in the air–water-vapor mixture remains constant, but
it is the amount of water vapor that changes.
• The total enthalpy (an extensive property) of atmospheric air is the sum of
the enthalpies of dry air and the water vapor:
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
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Terminologies & Formulae
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
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Terminologies & Formulae
Example 2.1
A 5-m 5-m 3-m room shown in contains air at 25°C and 100 kPa at a relative
humidity of 75 percent. Determine

(a) the partial pressure of dry air,

(b) the specific humidity,
(c) the enthalpy per unit mass of the dry air, and
(d ) the masses of the dry air and water vapor in the room.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
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Terminologies & Formulae
Example 2.1
A 5‐m  5‐m 3‐m room shown in contains air at 25°C and 100 kPa at a relative humidity of 75 
percent. Determine 

(a) the partial pressure of dry air, 
(b) the specific humidity, 
(c) the enthalpy per unit mass of the dry air, and 
(d ) the masses of the dry air and water vapor in the room.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
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Terminologies & Formulae
Example 2.1
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
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Terminologies & Formulae
Example 2.1
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

In the next class, we will learn how to find these

values by using psychrometric chart, in more
easier way…

Don’t forget to bring the hardcopy of

psychrometric chart which is available in i-
learn.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

To be continued in next class..

 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Dew-point temperature
• The dew-point temperature Tdp is defined as
the temperature at which condensation begins
when the air is cooled at constant pressure.

• In other words, Tdp is the saturation

temperature of water corresponding to the
vapour pressure:
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes

Psychrometric Chart
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Psychrometric Chart
• Make the calculation of air conditioning
system easier.

• In other words, Tdp is the saturation

temperature of water corresponding to the
vapour pressure:
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
Processes
Psychrometric chart
Example 2.1
Consider a room that contains air at 1 atm, 35°C, and 40 percent relative humidity. Using the 
psychrometric chart, determine (a) the specific humidity, (b) the enthalpy, (c) the wet‐bulb 
temperature, (d ) the dew‐point temperature, and (e) the specific volume of the air.
 2.0 Psychrometry of Air-conditioning
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Air-conditioning
process