PSYCHROMETRY

h
V RH

twb
tdp SH

tdb

Mair = mda + mwv

where:
tdb = Dry bulb temperature
twb = Wet bulb temperature
SH = Specific humidity
Tdp = Dew point temperature
RH = Relative Humidity
V = Specific volume
h = Enthalpy
DEFINITIONS
▪ Psychrometry is the study of the properties of air and water vapor or moist
air.
▪ Saturated air is an air whose condition is such that any decrease in
temperature will result in condensation of the water vapor into liquid; or a
condition of air which is saturated.
▪ Moist air is the mixture of dry and and water vapor.
▪ Dry air is the non-condensable component of moist air.
▪ Vapor is the condensable component of moist air; the water vapor or
steam that may exist in a saturated state or superheated state.
▪ Psychrometrics literally means “pertaining to the measurement of cold” but
in modern usage it refers to the state of the atmosphere with reference to
moisture.
Psychrometric Standards Adopted
o Density of air 1.293 kg/m3 at 101.325 kPaa at 0°C
o Density of water 1000 kg/m3 at 101.325 kPaa at 4°C

998.23 kg/m3 at 101.325 kPaa at 20°C

o Barometric pressure 101325 Paa, 101.325 kPaa, 1013.25 mbar

o Acceleration due to gravity 9.80665 m/s2
o Gas constant for air, Ra 0.28708 kJ/kg-°C
o Gas constant for water vapor, Rw 0.4615 kJ/kg-°C

AIR COMPOSITIONS
Air components Proportions Mol. Weight (kg/kgmol
Nitrogen 78.03 28.02
Oxygen 20.99 32.00
Carbon dioxide 0.03 44.00
Hydrogen 0.01 2.02
Argon 0.94 39.91
Molecular weight of air = 28.97 kg/kgmol
PSYCHROMETRIC PROPERTIES
1. Temperature (t) – refers to the temperature of moist air measure by the use of
psychrometer.
 a. Dry-bulb temperature (DB) – the actual temperature of the air that is
measured by an ordinary thermometer; or it is the temperature of a gas or
mixture of gases indicated by an accurate thermometer.
b. Wet-bulb temperature (WB) – the temperature of the air if it is saturated,
which is measured by thermometer whose bulb wrapped with a wetted
wick or cloth; or it is a temperature at which liquid or solid water, by
evaporating into air, can bring the air to saturation adiabatically at the
same temperature.
• Psychrometer is an instrument consisting of two thermometers, one
used to measure the dry-bulb temperature and the other used to
measure the wet-bulb temperature of the air.
2. Pressure (P) – pertains to the air ambient pressure; it is the barometric pressure
or atmospheric pressure that is equal to 101.325 kPaa at standard condition.
Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure:
o “In any mixture of miscible gases, the pressure exerted by gases on
its container is equal to the sum of the partial pressure of the gases.”
For total pressure, volume and temperature of moist air,
Pt = Pa + Pv; Vt = Va = Vv; tt = ta = tv
Where Pt = total pressure of air-water vapor mixture or the
atmospheric pressure, kPaa.
Pa = partial pressure of dry air, kPaa.
Pv = partial pressure of water vapor, kPaa.
Vt = volume of the mixture or moist air, m3.
Va = volume of dry air, m3.
Vv = volume of water vapor, m3.
tt = temperature of the mixture which is equal to the
temperature of each component or the dry bulb temp, °C.
3. Specific Volume (v) – the volume of a unit mass dry air,
𝑽𝒂 𝑽𝒂 𝑹𝒂 𝑻𝒂 𝑹𝒂 𝑻𝒂
𝒗= = = =
𝑷
𝒎 ( 𝒂 𝒂)𝑽 𝑷𝒂 (𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒗 )
𝑹𝒂 𝑻𝒂

Where v = specific volume of dry air, m3/kgda.

m = mass of dry air, kg.
 Pa = Pt - Pv = partial pressure of dry air, kPaa.
Va = volume of dry air, m3.
Ta = absolute temperature of dry air, K.
Ra = gas constant of dry air, kJ/kg-K = 0.28708 kJ/kg-K.
4. Humidity Ratio (W) (moisture content, mixing ratio, or specific humidity) – is the ratio
of the mass of water vapor and the mass of dry air.
𝑷𝒗 𝑽𝒗
𝒎𝒗 (𝑹𝒗 𝑻𝒗 ) 𝑹𝒂 𝑷𝒗 𝟎. 𝟐𝟖𝟕𝟎𝟖 𝑷𝒗 𝑷𝒗
𝑾= = = ( )( ) = ( )( ) = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟐𝟐 ( )
𝒎𝒂 (𝑷𝒂 𝑽𝒂 ) 𝑹𝒗 𝑷𝒂 𝟎. 𝟒𝟔𝟏𝟓 𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒗 𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒗
𝑹𝒂 𝑻𝒂

Where W = the humidity ratio, kgv/kga.

mv = mass of water vapor, kg.
Rv = gas constant of water vapor, kJ/kg-K = 0.4615 kJ/kg-K.
ma = mass of dry air, kg.
Ra = gas constant of dry air, kJ/kg-K = 0.28708 kJ/kg-K.
Va = Vv
T a = Tt
5. Enthalpy (h) – enthalpy of moist air is the sum of the enthalpy of dry air and the
enthalpy of the water vapor.
ASHRAE Formula: h = Cpt + Whg = 1.0062t + Whg
Where h = enthalpy of the mixture, kJ/kgda.
Cp = specific heat of dry air at constant pressure.
Cp = 1.0062 kJ/kg-K.
t = dry-bulb temperature of the dry air, °C.
W = the humidity ratio, kgv/kga.
hg = enthalpy of saturated vapor at the air temperature,
kJ/kgda. (to be obtained from steam tables)
IHVE Formula: h = 1.007t-0.026+W(2501+1.84t) for t = 0°C to 60°C
h = 1.005t+W(2501+1.84t) for t = -10°C to 0°C
Where h = enthalpy of the mixture or moist air, kJ/kgda.
 t = dry-bulb temperature, °C.
W = the humidity ratio, kgv/kga.
2501 kJ/kg = average enthalpy of evaporation for water, kJ/kg.
o IHVE – Institute of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (British).
6. Relative Humidity (RH) – is the ratio of the partial pressure water vapor to that
of the saturation pressure of water at a given dry bulb temperature,
𝑷𝒗
𝑹𝑯 = 𝜱 = ( ) (𝟏𝟎𝟎%)
𝑷𝒅

Where RH= Φ = relative humidity

Pv = partial pressure of water vapor at a given dry-bulb
temperature, kPaa.
Pd = saturation pressure of water vapor at a given dry-bulb
temperature, kPaa.
Pd = Psat
IHVE Formula:
a. For wet-bulb temperature is equal to or greater than zero (WB>0°C),
Pv = Pwb – (6.66 x 10-4)Pt(DB-WB).
b. For wet-bulb temperature is less than zero (WB<0°C), Pv = Pwb – (5.94
x 10-4)Pt(DB-WB).
7. Dew-Point Temperature (tdp) – is the temperature at which the condensation
of water vapor in a space begins. It is the saturation temperature corresponding
to the vapor partial pressure.
Figure 2.2 T-S Diagram (water vapor)
8. Percent Saturation (U) – is the ratio of the air humidity ratio, W, to the humidity
ratio, Ws, of saturated air at the same temperature and pressure.
𝑷𝒗
𝑾 (𝟎. 𝟔𝟐𝟐) ( ) 𝑷𝒗 𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒅 𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒅
𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒗
𝑼= (𝟏𝟎𝟎%) = (𝟏𝟎𝟎%) = ( ) ( ) (𝟏𝟎𝟎%) = 𝑹𝑯 ( )
𝑾𝒔 𝑷𝒅 𝑷𝒅 𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒗 𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒗
(𝟎. 𝟔𝟐𝟐) ( )
𝑷𝒕 − 𝑷𝒅

Where U = percent saturation, %.

Ws = the humidity ratio of saturated vapor at a given DB
temperature.
W = humidity ratio of moist air at a given DB temperature.
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
• Psychrometric Chart is the graphical representation of the psychrometric
properties or properties of moist air wherein the humidity ratio is the ordinate
and the dry-bulb temperature is the abscissa.
• Three psychrometric charts are commonly used namely: the ASHRAE
psychrometric chart, the IHVE psychrometric chart, and the Carrier
psychrometric chart.
• Available psychrometric charts are used to determine the properties of
moist air at standard atmospheric pressure at 101.325 kPa.
• Figure 2.3 below illustrates a psychrometric chart based on Carrier.
Figure 2.3 Psychrometric chart
 • The following symbols are used for the properties of moist air
H = enthalpy, kJ/kg.
W = humidity ratio, kgv/kgda.
RH = relative humidity, %.
DB = dry-bulb temperature, °C.
WB = wet-bulb temperature, °C.
v = specific volume, m3/kgda.
DP = dew point temperature.
SHR = sensible heat ratio
• Wet-bulb Depression is the difference between the readings of the dry and
wet bulb temperatures.
ADIABATIC SATURATION AND THERMODYNAMIC WET-BULB TEMPERATURE
• Adiabatic saturator is a device in which air flows through a spray of water.
Figure 2.4 Adiabatic saturator

• As shown above:
a. The water circulates continuously, and the spray provides so much
surface area that the air leaves the spray chamber in equilibrium with
the water, with respect to both temperature and vapor pressure.
 b. The device is adiabatic in that the walls of the saturator are insulated,
and no heat is added to, or extracted, and water line that circulates
the water from the sump back to the sprays.
c. The temperature of the make-up water is controlled so that it is the
same as that in the sump.
d. After the adiabatic saturator has achieved a steady state condition,
the temperature indicated by an accurate thermometer immersed
in the sump is the thermodynamic wet-bulb temperature.
Figure 2.5 Psychrometric Diagram of Adiabatic Saturator

• Considering the figure above and by energy balance

Ein = Eout h1 + (W2 – W1)hf = h2 h2 = h1 - (W2 – W1)hf
Where h1 = enthalpy of entering air, kJ/kgda.
h2 = enthalpy of leaving air, kJ/kgda.
W2 = humidity ratio of air leaving, kgv/kgda.
W1 = humidity ratio of air entering, kgv/kgda.
hf = enthalpy of saturated liquid, kJ/kg.
STRAIGHT-LINE LAW
• “When air is transferring heat and mass (water) to or from a wetted surface,
the condition of the air shown on a psychrometric chart drives toward the
saturation line at the temperature of the wetted surface.”
Figure 2.6 Psychrometric Diagram for Straight-Line Law

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

• Absolute zero is defined as the zero point on the absolute temperature
scale that is 459.69 degrees below the zero of the Fahrenheit scale or 273.16
degrees below the zero on the Celsius scale.
• Generally, the air surrounding an object or system is known as an ambient
air.
• An adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process during which no heat is
added to, or taken from, a substance or system.
• An air without of water vapor content is called dry air.
• Outside air is an external air or an atmosphere exterior to refrigerated or
conditioned space.
• Saturated air is a moist air in which the partial pressure of the water vapor is
equal to the vapor pressure of water at the existing temperature. This
condition happens when dry air and saturated water vapor coexist at the
same dry-bulb temperature.
• Air is said to be standard at 760 mm Hg (29.92 inches Hg) at 21°C (69.8°F)
with a specific volume of 0.833 m3/kg (13.33 ft3/lb).
• Air Conditioning is the process of treating air so as to control simultaneously
its temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and distribution to meet the
requirements of the conditioned space.
• Comfort Air Conditioning is the process of treating air so as to control
simultaneously its temperature humidity, cleanliness, and distribution to
meet the comfort requirements of the occupants of the conditioned room
or space.
• Summer Air Condition is the process of conditioning air when outside air
temperature and humidity are above those to be maintained in the
conditioned space.
• An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure is said to be
barometer.
• Centigrade is a thermometric scale in which the freezing point of water is 0
degree and the boiling point of water is 100 degrees at normal atmospheric
pressure (101.325 kPa or 14.696 psi).
• The process of changing the water vapor into liquid water by the extraction
of heat.
• Apparatus dew point is that temperature which would result if the
psychrometric process occurring in a dehumidifier, humidifier, or surface
cooler were carried to the saturation condition of the leaving air while
maintaining the same ratio of sensible to total heat load in the process.
• Fahrenheit is a thermometric scale in which 32 degrees denote freezing
and 212 degrees the boiling point of water under normal atmospheric
pressure (at sea level, 14.696 psi).
• Temperature is the thermal state of matter with reference to its tendency
to communicate heat to matter in contact with it.
• Dew point is the temperature at which the condensation of water vapor in
a space begins for a given state of humidity and pressure as the
temperature of the vapor is reduced. This is the temperature corresponding
to saturation for a given absolute humidity at constant pressure.
• Dry-bulb temperature is the temperature of gas or mixture of gases
indicated by an accurate thermometer after correction for radiation.
• Wet-bulb temperature is the temperature registered by a thermometer
whose bulb is covered with a wetted wick and exposed to a current of
rapidly moving air.
• The ratio of the actual water vapor pressure of the air to the saturated water
vapor pressure of the air at the same temperature is known as relative
humidity.
• Specific humidity or moisture content is the weight of water vapor in grains,
pounds, grams, or kilograms per kilogram of dry air.
• In dealing with psychrometric and air conditioning problems, air is
considered as a mixture of water vapor and dry air. The water vapor in the
air is either in the form of superheated steam or, when the air holds as much
vapor as it can, in the form of saturated steam.
• Relative humidity, RH or Φ, is defined as the partial pressure of the water
vapor in the air (Pv) divided by the partial pressure exerted by water vapor
in saturated air (Pd)at the same temperature. The equation is Φ =
(Pv/Pd)100%. Where Pv and Pd is in psi or kPaa.
• Specific humidity or humidity ratio, W, is defined as the ratio of the weight
or mass of water vapor to the weight or mass of dry air. In a mixture of gases
or of gasses and vapors, each gas or component occupies the entire
volume.
• Humidity ratio is given by the equation:
W = ρv/ρa = 0.622[Pv/(Pt-Pv)], where ρv = density of water vapor in lb/ft3 or
kg//m3, ρa = density of dry air in lb/ft3 or kg/m3, Pv = partial pressure of water
vapor in psi or kPaa, Pa = partial pressure of dry air in psi or kPaa, Pt =
barometric pressure in psi or kPaa, and Pd is in psi or kPaa.
• When a thermometer with its bulb covered by a wetted wick is spun I the
air until the air surrounding the bulb becomes saturated, the equilibrium
temperature reached is termed as wet-bulb temperature. Wet-bulb
temperature is lower than the dry-bulb temperature because the energy
required to evaporate the water vapor into the air comes from the
surrounding air vapor mixture.
• The amount of water vapor that air can hold decreases as the air
temperature decreases. When an air vapor mixture is cooled at constant
pressure until the air becomes saturated, the temperature reached is
known as the dew point temperature. If cooling process continues at
constant pressure, this would result in the condensation of moisture from the
air.
• An empirical equation known as Carrier equation in useful in determining
the partial pressure of water vapor in a moist air:
(𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑤 )(𝐷𝐵 − 𝑊𝐵)
𝑃𝑣 = 𝑃𝑤 −
2800 − 1.3(𝑊𝐵)
Where, Pw = saturation pressure of water vapor at a temperature equal to
the wet-bulb temperature in psi, DB = dry-bulb temperature in °F, WB = wet-
bulb temperature in °F, Pt = barometric pressure in psi.
• An empirical equation known as IHVE equation is used to determine the
partial pressure of water vapor in a moist air: Pv = Pw - 6.66 x 10-4 Pt(DB-WB),
where Pv = vapor pressure in kPaa, Pw = saturation pressure of water vapor
at a temperature equal to wet-bulb temperature in kPaa, Pt = barometric
 pressure in kPaa, DB = dry-bulb temperature in °C (taken by the sling
psychrometer), and WB = wet-bulb temperature in °C (taken by the sling
psychrometer).
• IHVE means Institute of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (a British
organization).
• Carrier equation for the enthalpy of moist air is as follows:
h = 0.24(DB) + Whg, where, h = enthalpy of moist air in BTU/lb, DB = dry-bulb
temperature in °F, W = humidity ratio in lb of water vapor per lb dry air, hg =
enthalpy of saturated steam at a temperature equal to the dry-bulb
temperature in BTU/lb.
• IHVE equations to determine the enthalpy of moist air are as follows:
For 0°C ≤ DB ≤ 60°C h = 1.007DB – 0.026 + W(2501 + 1.84DB)
For -10°C ≤ DB ≤ 0°C h = 1.005DB + W(2501 + 1.84DB)
where, h = enthalpy of moist air in kJ/kg, DB = dry-bulb in °C, W = humidity
ratio in kgv/kgda.
• Specific volume is the volume in m3 of one kg of dry air together with the
mass of water vapor associated with k. In the mixture, the water vapor
occupies the same volume as the dry air but each of this two components
is at its own partial pressure.
• An ideal gas law is used to determine the humid volume of air in three ways:
a. Making use of the mass and partial pressure of the dry air.
b. Making use of the mass and partial pressure of the water vapor.
c. Making use of the mass and total pressure of the mixture.
• Percent saturation is defined as the ratio of the moisture content of moist
air at a given temperature, DB, to the moisture content of saturated air at
the same temperature, DB.
• The standard air gas constant is equivalent to 53.352 ft-lb/lb-°R or 287 J/kg-
K.
• Water vapor gas constant is equivalent to 85.78 ft-lb/lb-°R or 462 J/kg-K.
• The universal gas constant is equivalent to 1545.32 ft-lb/lb mole-°R or 8.314
kJ/kg mole-K.
• The following are the definitions of ASHRAE of US standard atmosphere.
o Acceleration due to gravity is constant at 32.174 fps2 or 9.807 m/s2.
o Temperature at sea level is 59°F, 15°C, or 288.1 K.
o Pressure at sea level is 29.921 inches of mercury or 101.039 kPa.
o The atmosphere consists of dry air, which behaves as a perfect gas.
 • Standard atmospheric pressure is also commonly taken to be 14.696 psi, or
101.325 kPa, which corresponds to 30 in Hg, and standard atmospheric
temperature is sometimes assumed to be 70°F or 21°C.
• The ASHRAE estimation of atmospheric pressure as a function of elevation
(for altitudes up to 60 000 ft or 18 291 m) is given by the following equation:
P = a + bH, where, a & b = constant given in the table below; P =
atmospheric pressure in psi or kPa; H = elevation above sea level, ft or
meters.

H ≤ 4000 ft (or 1220 m) H > 4000 ft (or 1220 m)

Constant IP system SI system IP system SI system
a 29.92 101.325 29.42 99.436
b -0.001025 -0.01153 -0.0009 -0.010
IP means inch-pound
• An instrument used to measure the dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures of
a moist air is known as Psychrometer.
• The study of the properties of moist air is known as Psychrometry.
• A graphical representation of the thermodynamic properties of moist air is
called Psychrometric Chart. There are three common psychrometric charts
being used in the Philippines, the Carrier Psychrometric Chart, ASHRAE
Psychrometric Chart, and the IHVE Psychrometric Chart.
• Wet bulb depression is the difference of the dry-bulb temperature and wet-
bulb temperature reading in a psychrometer.
• Dew point temperature is the saturation temperature corresponding to the
actual partial pressure of the steam in air or the temperature at which
condensation of moisture begins when the air cooled at constant pressure.
• The enthalpy of a moist air is the sum of the enthalpy of dry air and the
enthalpy of water vapor. Enthalpy values are always based on some datum
line, and the zero value of the dry air is chosen as air at 0°C or 32°F and the
zero value of the water vapor is saturated liquid water at 0°C or 32°F.
• A device in which air flows through a spray of water is known as Adiabatic
Saturator. In this device, water circulates continuously, ad the spray
provides so much surface area that the air leaves the spray chamber in
equilibrium with the water, with respect to both temperature and vapor
pressure. The walls of the saturator are insulated, and no heat is added to,
or extracted from, the water line.