BEM3223 / BTHM4023:

AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONING

SYSTEM
CHAPTER 3:
Study of Psychrometric Charts

DRB-HICO M UNIVERSITY OF AUTOMOTIVE MALAYSIA

Prepared by: Nor Syukriah binti Khalid (NSK) KOMPLEKS AUTOMOTIF DRB-HICOM, LOT 1449, PT 2204,
KAWASAN PERINDUSTRIAN PERAMU JAYA, 26607 PEKAN, PAHANG
T: 09 4242400 ● F: 09 4242500
Psychrometric properties
• Psychrometric is the science of studying the
thermodynamic properties of moist air and
the use of these properties to analyse
conditions and processes involving moist air.

• Moist air is a mixture of dry air and water

vapour. In atmospheric air, water vapour
content varies from 0 to 3% by mass.

www.dhuam.edu.my
 Dry-bulb & Wet-bulb temperature
• Dry-bulb temperature is the temperature indicated by an ordinary
thermometer used to measure air temperature.

• In a wet –bulb thermometer, the bulb (heat-sensitive part) of glass tube

thermometer is wrapped with gauze or some other type of rough-mesh
cloth.

• One end of the cloth is suspended in a water container to allow the water
to be drawn up by capillary action and moisten the bulb.

• The water in the cloth near the bulb evaporates and robs the latent heat
of evaporation from the surrounding air, causing the air temperature
around bulb to drop.

www.dhuam.edu.my
• The temperature registered by the wet-bulb
thermometer is called the “wet-bulb
temperature”.

• An instrument contains both a dry-bulb and

wet-bulb thermometer is called
“PSYCHROMETER”.

www.dhuam.edu.my
www.dhuam.edu.my
Psychrometer

www.dhuam.edu.my
 Humidity
There are two way of measuring humidity:
1. Relative humidity
The amount (by weight) of water vapor which the air
actually contains, COMPARED with the amount (weight)
of vapor which the air could hold at a given temperature.
2. Absolute humidity
Absolute humidity is the amount (by weight) of
vapor which the air contains, COMPARED with the
amount of dry air.

www.dhuam.edu.my
 Psychrometric processes -
Performance test
1. Install the manifold gauge set.
2. Run the engine at 2,000 rpm and set the controls
for maximum cooling and high blower speed.
3. Keep all windows and doors open.
4. Place a dry-bulb thermometer in the cool air
outlet.
5. Place a psychrometer close to the inlet of the
cooling unit.
6. Check that the reading on the high pressure gauge
is 1,373-1,575 kPa (14-16 kg/cm2, 199-228 psi). If
the reading is too high, pour water on the
condenser. If the reading to too low, cover the
front of the condenser.
7. Check that the reading on the dry-bulb
thermometer at the air inlet at 25-35°C (77-95°F).

www.dhuam.edu.my
Psychrometric Chart
& Analysis
How to read the Standard Performance Curve
8. Calculate the relative humidity from the psychrometric chart by
comparing the dry-bulb and wet-bulb reading of the psychrometer at
air inlet.

www.dhuam.edu.my
9. Measure the dry-bulb temperature at the cool air outlet and
calculate the difference between the inlet dry-bulb (inlet
temperature: 25OC – 35OC) and outlet dry-bulb temperature.
**How to measure inlet temperature: Operate the air
conditioning system until a stabilized condition on high
and low pressure gauge and the thermometer have been
established

10. Check that the intersection of the relative humidity and

temperature difference is between the two hatched lines.

www.dhuam.edu.my
 Standard Performance Curve
If the intersection is within the two lines, cooling
performance is satisfactory.
www.dhuam.edu.my
www.dhuam.edu.my