CHAPTER (3)

PSYCHOMETRIC PROCESSES

An air conditioning process determines the change in thermodynamics properties of

moist air between the initial and final states of conditioning and also the
corresponding energy transfer between the moist air and medium such as water,
refrigerant, or moist air itself during the change.

The commonly six processes described in the next section include:

• Sensible heating,
• Sensible cooling
• Cooling and dehumidification
• Humidification
• Adiabatic dehumidification, and
• Adiabatic mixing process

3- 1 Sensible Heating Process

Sensible heating process means the heating of the air without the addition of
remove of moisture (w1=w2). Heating can be provided using electric heater, hot
water coil, or steam coil.
In this process : dbt2 > dbt1 , h2 > h1 , Rh2 < Rh1

H.C. h2
ma w
1 (+) 2 h1
w1=w2
1 2

dbt1 dbt2

The heat added to the air passing over the heating coil can be given by:

Q(heat add) = m
& (h
a h ) kW
2 1
Where
ma = mass flow rate of passing air kg/s
h1, h2 = enthalpies of air at inlet and outlet

This equals to the heating capacity (H.C.) of the heating coil used.
3-2 Sensible Cooling Process (cooling above dpt) dbt2> dpt
Sensible Cooling process means the cooling of the air while maintaining a
constant humidity ratio (w1=w2) of the moist air. The sensible cooling process
occurs using DX- coil, or chilled water cooling coil.

dbt2 < dbt1 , h2 < h1 , Rh2 > Rh1

h2
C.C. w
ma
h1
1 2
(-) w1=w2
dpt 2 1

dbt2 dbt1
The amount of heat removed from the air can be calculated using the given
equation:

Q(heat removed) = m
& (h h )
a 1 2 kW
Where:
ma = mass flow rate of passing air kg/s
h1, h2 = enthalpies of air at inlet and outlet

The cooling capacity of the cooling coil used (DX-coil, or Chilled water coil)
can be given in Ton of refrigeration (TR)

& (h h )
m
Cooling Capacity = a 1 2 TR
3.5
Ton of refrigerant (TR) = 3.5 KW
3- 3 Cooling with Dehumidification Process (Cooling below dpt)
The removal of the water vapor from the air is termed as dehumidification of
air. The cooling and dehumidification of air is only possible if the air is cooled
to a final temperature (dbt2) below the dew point temperature (dpt). It is
necessary to maintain the coil surface temperature (Ts) below dew point
temperature of air for effective dehumidification.

There are three types of heat exchangers used in cooling and dehumidifying
process:
1. Water cooling coil with chilled water flowing inside the coil’s tubes.
2. Direct expansion DX-coil in which refrigerant evaporates directly inside
the coil ‘s tubes.
3. Air washer where chilled water rather than re-circulated water is used in
spraying

dbt2 < dbt1 < dpt , w2 < w1 , Rh2> Rh1

Ts < dpt h1
C.C. hx w
ma 1
h2 dpt w1
1 2
(-)
w2
ADP 2 x
3
Drain

dbt2 dbt1

The total heat removed from the air is given by:

Q(Tot.) = m & (h h )
a kW
1 2
The sensible part of the heat removed is given by:
Q(sens.) = m & (h
a x h ) kW
2
While the latent heat part, which can be removed by the coil, is given by:
Q(Lat.) = m & (h h )
a 1 x kW
The amount of condensation (humidification removed) is given by:
& =m
m & (w w ) × 3600 kg/hr
w a 1 2
The cooling coil capacity in ton of refrigeration (TR) is given by:
& (h h )
m
Cooling Capacity = a 1 2
3.5
 (a) Apparatus Dew Point Temperature (ADP)
The temperature( dbt3 or T3 ) corresponding to the point 3, shown on the
saturation curve is known as “Apparatus Dew Point.” (ADP), which is also
equal to the coil surface temperature (Ts)

(b) Coil By Pass Factor (BF)

As the moist air at temperature (dbt1) passing over a cooling coil at a surface
temperature (Ts) which equal the ADP . Part of the air shall contact the coil
and other part shall pass without contact the surface, thus the final mixture
condition of the air leaving the coil shall be at a temperature dbt2 which is
greater than Ts ( dbt2> Ts)

Ts=ADP
dbt1 dbt2

Air flow

F)
(1-B w
BF
w1
1
w2
ADP 2
3 w3

dbt3 dbt2 dbt1

h h w w dbt dbt
BF = 2 3 = 2 3 = 2 3
h h w w dbt dbt
1 3 1 3 1 3
The by pass factor is an important tool for measuring the performance of the
coils. The performance of the coil is better with lower bypass factor

(c) Contact Factor

Another important factor, which is introduced, is contact factor. The contact factor is
given by:

Contact factor = 1 – by pass factor= 1-BF

 (d) Sensible Heat Ratio (SHR)

l
1

ota
Qt
Qlat w
ADP 2 x
Qsen

dbt
Q sen.
The ratio is called sensible heat ratio or sensible heat factor and it is
Q
total
given as:
Q sen
SHR =
Q sen +Q
lat
This ratio fixes the slope of the line 1-2 on the psychometric chart constant sensible
heat ratio

S.H.R
H.
R .R
0 % S.H
10 1.0
R
w
50%RH.
(24C) dbt
The sensible heat ratio (SHRs) for few applications are recommended as
follows:
Residence or Private office = 0.9
Restaurant or busy offices =0.75 up to 0.8
Auditorium of full capacity = 0.65 up to 0.7
Gymnasium =0.55 up to 0.65
3- 4 Humidification Processes
In humidification process, water vapor is added to moist air, which increases in the
humidity ratio if the initial moist air is unsaturated. Humidification of moist air in
central system is performed by the following common two methods:

1.) Sprayed type Air Washer

2.) Steam injection

3-4-1 Humidification Process using Spray type Air Washer

In an air washer, a small pump supplies the water at a temperature (Tw) to banks of
spraying nozzles under high pressure. The un-evaporated water is collected and re-
circulated again and again for humidification purpose. A float valve in the supply line
control the level of water in the tank. The eliminator plates provided after the sprays
remove the water droplets from the air

Air Air
1 2

Tw Makeup
Air washer
Effect of water temperature (Tw) on the Condition of Air

wb
t= 3"
c
2"
3 w
3' 2
H. 2'
% R 1
100

dbt
1- If the temperature of the water is equivalent to the wbt1 of air, (Tw=
wbt1) the condition of air passing through the washer is represented by
point “2” along the line 1-3 . This is known as adiabatic saturation
process (constant wet bulb temperature line).
The exact location of point “2” depends on the humidifying efficiency.
 2- If the temperature of water less than wbt1of air (Tw< wbt1) and greater
than dpt1, then the heat transfer will take place from the air to the water
and the enthalpy of air will be reduced and the condition of the air
leaving the spray chamber is shown by the point 2´ and will be along
the line 1-3´ .

3- If the water temperature (Tw) is greater that wbt1 ( Tw > wbt1), then the
heat will flow from the water to the air flowing through the spray. The
heat will use to evaporate spray water and to increase the enthalpy of
the air passing through the spray. In this case spray humidifier acts as
heater as well as humidifier. The process is shown along the line 1-3"
and the final condition is represents by the point 2"

Adiabatic Humidification Process (Process 1-2)

As we mentioned before when the sprayed water temperature equal the wet bulb
temperature of the passing air through the water sprayer. This is known as
adiabatic saturation process or constant wet bulb temperature process.

Tw= wbt1=wbt2, w2>w1, Rh2>Rh1

w
h1=h2
3 2
w2

1 w1

dbt2 dbt1
The amount of humidification or the amount of water consumption during
humidification process can be calculated by:

& (w
The Amount of Humidification= m a w ) × 3600 kg w/h
2 1
This also shall be equal the amount of make-up water

Effectiveness of Humidification (Air Washer) , ( E )

h
Complete humidification of the air is not possible. To study the performance of the
spray chamber or the air-washer, effectiveness of humidification process is
defined as
 Actual increase in air humidity ratio
E =
h Ideal increase in air humidity ratio
dbt dbt w w
E = 1 2= 2 1
h dbt dbt w w
1 3 3 1
The humidifying effectiveness depends upon the number of banks of tube used
,the direction of water spray, and the contact time.

3-4-2 Humidification Process using Steam Injection

Steam injection can be used for increasing the humidity ratio of the air. The
mixing of air and steam is represented along a constant dry bulb temperature.

dbt1 = dbt2, w2 > w1, Rh2>Rh1, h2>h1

h2
w
h1 2
Air in Air out w2

Steam RH.
% w1
100 1

dbt1=dbt2

It is not possible to use steam below 100oC (at atmospheric pressure), as it is

necessary to spray the steam through the nozzles, which require higher pressure
of steam than atmospheric. So the lower possible enthalpy carried with the steam
is the total heat of steam at 100oC when the steam is fully dry and saturated

The amount of steam sprayed per kg of air is given by:

& = (w
m w )
s 2 1
The final condition of the air is calculated by using mass and enthalpy balance
w =w +m
2 1 s
Where ms is the quantity of steam added per kg of dry-air
h =h +m L
2 1 s
Where “L” is the latent heat of steam per kg of steam injected into the air.

& (w
Capacity of steam generator = m w )L
a 2 1
& (h
=m h ) kW
a 2 1
3-5 Adiabatic Chemical Dehumidification
When the high humid air is passed through the solid or liquid absorbent (desiccants),
part of the water vapor will be absorbed reducing the water vapor content in the air.
The latent heat liberated is absorbed by the air increasing its dry-bulb temperature
and the total heat of the air remains constant, so that the process of chemical
dehumidification follows the path along constant enthalpy line.

dbt2 = dbt1, w2 < w1, Rh2 < Rh1, h2 = h1, wbt2=wbt1

h1=h2

w1
1
RH. 2
% w2
100
3 w3
dbt1 dbt2 dbt3
The decrease of humidity ratio during desiccant dehumidification process is given by:

& (w
Dehumidification rate = m w ) kgw/s
a 1 2

& (w
And the reduction of latent heat = m w )L kW
a 1 2

The effectiveness of the dehumidifier ( E ), is defined as

h
Actual drop in air humidity ratio
E =
h Ideal drop in air humidity ratio
w w dbt dbt
E = 1 2= 2 1
h w w dbt dbt
1 3 3 1
Where dbt3 is the maximum possible temperature of out coming air.
 3-6 Adiabatic Mixing of Air- Streams
The adiabatic mixing of two air-streams, means mixing without addition or extraction
of heat .Two air streams of different psychometric properties are mixed together. The
psychometric properties of the mixture can be calculated by balancing the enthalpies
and mass of water vapor in the mixed air

1 h1
m1 w
3
h3
m1+m2 1
h2 w1
m2 3
2 w3
.
%RH 2 w2
100

dbt2 dbt3 dbt1

m h + m h = (m + m )h
11 2 2 1 2 3

m w + m w = (m + m )w
1 1 2 2 1 2 3

m (h h ) = m (h h )
1 1 3 2 3 2

m (w w ) = m (w w )
1 1 3 2 3 2
And from equations, we get

m h h w w
1 = 3 2 = 3 2
m h h w w
2 1 3 1 3
The humidity ratio and enthalpy scale are linear on the psychometric chart, so that
the final state (point 3) lies on the straight line joining the points 1 and 2 and the
m
mixture-point 3 divides this straight line into two parts in the ratio of 1 such that
m
2
m
1 = Distance 2 3
m Distance 3 1
2
Solve the following problems using psychrometric chart:
1-Ten grams of moisture per kg of dry air is removed from atmospheric air when it
passed through an air-conditioning system and its temperature becomes 30°C. the
atmospheric conditions are 40°C DBT and 60%R.H.find the following for air leaving
the equipement :
a- relative humidity. b- Wet-bulb temperature.
C- Dew-point temperature.
Take the air pressure as 1.013 bar.

2- A cooling coil is used to cool 3600kg/hr of air initially at 32°C DBT and 40%RH.Find
the cooling capacity of the coil in ton-ref,if the final DBT is
a-13°C b-21°C

3-The atmospheric air at 30°C DBT and 40% R.H is cooled to 15°C DBT. Calculate the
heat removed if the supply of air is 150 cu.m. Per minute.

4- The conditions of atmospheric air are 40°C DBT and 60%RH.the air is cooled to 20°C
DBT if the air supply to system is 200 cu.m. per minute ,find the following:
a- heat removed from the air per minute.
b- relative humidity and wet-bulb-temperature.
Assuming the air pressure to be 101.3 bar.

5-one kg of air at 20°C DBT and 80%RH is mixed with two kg of air at 30°C DBT and
10°C dew point temperature. the mixture of air then passed through cooling coil with
a rate of 200 m3/min.the temperature of air coming out of the cooling coil is15°C DBT.
Calculate the following:
a- DBT and specific humidity of air after mixing.
b- Cooling load on the cooling coil in tons of refrigeration.

6-air at 27°C DBT and 60%RH is cooled and dehumidified by a direct expansion cooling
coil till a temperature 16°C DBT. The air flow rate is 1000m3/hr.find the cooling
capacity in tons-ref; coil SHF, coil dew point, by-pass factor and amount of
condensate.

7-achilled water spray system is used to cool and dehumidifying 11400 kg/hr of air from
30°CDBT and 21WBT to 13DBT.determine the cooling capacity in ton-ref, apparatus
SHF and apparatus dew point.

8-air at 27°c DBT and 16°c WBT is humidified partially to 90%rh with adiabatic air
washer. Estimate the amount of water required for humidification process in lit/min
and humidifying efficiency. If the air flow rate is 10000m3/hr.

9-air at 25°CDBT and 30%RH is humidified by steam humidifier to 50%RH.Estimate the

humidifier capacity in kg/hr and heating capacity required to generate steam in KW .If
the air flow rate is 1200 m3/hr.

10-the air at 40°C DBT and 35%RH is passed through adiabatic humidifier and it comes
out with 26.4°C DBT and fully saturated. find the quantity of water vapor added per
kg of dry air .assume air pressure 101.3kpa.
11- 1000cu.m. of air per minute at 24°C DBT and 40% RH is supplied to auditorium. the
condition of atmospheric air is 33°C DBT and 60% RH.the required condition is
achieved first by cooling and dehumidification and then heating .find the cooling
capacity required in tons of refrigeration and heating capacity required in KW.

12-The atmospheric air at 40°C DBT and 60%RH and at pressure 1.013 bar is passed
with a rate of 30 cu.m. Per minute through air-conditioning system and cooled down
to 15°C DBT. This cooled air is further passed through a water heater and heated to
24°C. find the final RH and quantity of water vapor removed per hour.
If the temperature of water inlet and outlet through the water heating coil are 30°C
and 25°C .find the amount of water circulation in kg per minute through the heating
coil.

13-atmospheric air at 12°C and 75% RH is to be conditioned to a temperature of 22°C

and 60% RH. the amount of air supplied is 200 cu.m./min.
The required condition is achieved first by heating then by adiabatic humidifying .find
the following:
a-amount of steam required in kg/h through the heating coil at pressure 2 bar
and 0.96 dry. Assume only latent heat of steam is used for heating.
b-the quantity of water required per hour in the humidifier.

14-atomspheric air at 38°C and 20%RH .brought to a temperature of 22°C and

60%RH.first by adiabatic humidification and then by cooling.
If the quantity of free air flow is 500 m3/min,then find the following:
a-capacity of the humidifier
b-capacity of the cooling coil in tons of refrigeration
if the required conditions is achieved first by injecting the saturated steam at
100°C, then find the quantity of steam required per hour and change in capacity of
the cooling coil.

15-air at 26°C and 40%RH is required for some industrial purposes when atmospheric
conditions are 42°C DBT and 29°C WBT. The quantity of air required is 500
m3/min.the required condition is achieved first by cooling and dehumidification and
then by heating. if the dew point of the cooling coil is 10°C then find the following :
a- cooling coil capacity in tons of refrigeration and its bypass factor
b-the quantity of steam required per hour at 2 bar and saturated which is
used in the heating coil. Assume only latent heat is used for heating.

16- a cold dry air at 10°C and 60%RH is required for industrial process, when the
ambient conditions 41°C DBT and 25°C WBT .the required conditions are achieved
first by cooling and dehumidification and then by chemical dehumidification and
lastly by cooling. The dew point temperature of the cooling coil is 5°C and bypass
factor is 0.11.if the quantity of air supplied is 200 m3/min, find the capacities of
different equipments used.
17-saturated air at 5°C is first preheated and then saturated adiabatically and reheated
to a final condition of 40°C DBT and 30%RH.To what temperature must the air
,initially ,to be heated in the preheating coil.

18-moist air enters a refrigeration coil at 32°C DBT and 18°C WBT and at a rate of 500
L/s .the surface temperature of the coil is 5°C. if 3.5 tons of refrigeration are
available.
Find the dry bulb temperature of the air leaving the coil and moisture removed.The
larger value of m1 brings the state 3 nearer to condition “1”
Solve the following problems using psychrometric chart:
1-Ten grams of moisture per kg of dry air is removed from atmospheric air when it
passed through an air-conditioning system and its temperature becomes 30°C. the
atmospheric conditions are 40°C DBT and 60%R.H.find the following for air leaving
the equipement :
a- relative humidity. b- Wet-bulb temperature.
C-Dew-point temperature.
Take the air pressure as 1.013 bar.
2-a cooling coil is used to cool 3600kg/hr of air initially at 32°C DBT and 40%RH.Find
the cooling capacity of the coil in ton-ref,if the final DBT is
a-13°C b-21°C

3-The atmospheric air at 30°C DBT and 40% R.H is cooled to 15°C DBT. Calculate the
heat removed if the supply of air is 150 cu.m. Per minute.

4- The conditions of atmospheric air are 40°C DBT and 60%RH.the air is cooled to 20°C
DBT if the air supply to system is 200 cu.m. per minute ,find the following:
a- heat removed from the air per minute.
b- relative humidity and wet-bulb-temperature.
Assuming the air pressure to be 101.3 bar.

5-one kg of air at 20°C DBT and 80%RH is mixed with two kg of air at 30°C DBT and
10°C dew point temperature. the mixture of air then passed through cooling coil with
a rate of 200 m3/min.the temperature of air coming out of the cooling coil is15°C DBT.
Calculate the following:
a- DBT and specific humidity of air after mixing.
b- Cooling load on the cooling coil in tons of refrigeration.

6-air at 27°C DBT and 60%RH is cooled and dehumidified by a direct expansion cooling
coil till a temperature 16°C DBT. The air flow rate is 1000m3/hr.find the cooling
capacity in tons-ref; coil SHF, coil dew point, by-pass factor and amount of
condensate.

7-achilled water spray system is used to cool and dehumidifying 11400 kg/hr of air from
30°CDBT and 21WBT to 13DBT.determine the cooling capacity in ton-ref, apparatus
SHF and apparatus dew point.

8-air at 27°c DBT and 16°c WBT is humidified partially to 90%rh with adiabatic air
washer. Estimate the amount of water required for humidification process in lit/min
and humidifying efficiency. If the air flow rate is 10000m3/hr.

9-air at 25°CDBT and 30%RH is humidified by steam humidifier to 50%RH.Estimate the

humidifier capacity in kg/hr and heating capacity required to generate steam in KW .If
the air flow rate is 1200 m3/hr.

10-the air at 40°C DBT and 35%RH is passed through adiabatic humidifier and it comes
out with 26.4°C DBT and fully saturated. find the quantity of water vapor added per
kg of dry air .assume air pressure 101.3kpa.
11- 1000cu.m. of air per minute at 24°C DBT and 40% RH is supplied to auditorium. the
condition of atmospheric air is 33°C DBT and 60% RH.the required condition is
achieved first by cooling and dehumidification and then heating .find the cooling
capacity required in tons of refrigeration and heating capacity required in KW.

12-The atmospheric air at 40°C DBT and 60%RH and at pressure 1.013 bar is passed
with a rate of 30 cu.m. Per minute through air-conditioning system and cooled down
to 15°C DBT. This cooled air is further passed through a water heater and heated to
24°C. find the final RH and quantity of water vapor removed per hour.
If the temperature of water inlet and outlet through the water heating coil are 30°C
and 25°C .find the amount of water circulation in kg per minute through the heating
coil.

13-atmospheric air at 12°C and 75% RH is to be conditioned to a temperature of 22°C

and 60% RH. the amount of air supplied is 200 cu.m./min.
The required condition is achieved first by heating then by adiabatic humidifying .find
the following:
a-amount of steam required in kg/h through the heating coil at pressure 2 bar
and 0.96 dry. Assume only latent heat of steam is used for heating.
b-the quantity of water required per hour in the humidifier.

14-atomspheric air at 38°C and 20%RH .brought to a temperature of 22°C and

60%RH.first by adiabatic humidification and then by cooling.
If the quantity of free air flow is 500 m3/min,then find the following:
a-capacity of the humidifier
b-capacity of the cooling coil in tons of refrigeration
if the required conditions is achieved first by injecting the saturated steam at
100°C, then find the quantity of steam required per hour and change in capacity of
the cooling coil.

15-air at 26°C and 40%RH is required for some industrial purposes when atmospheric
conditions are 42°C DBT and 29°C WBT. The quantity of air required is 500
m3/min.the required condition is achieved first by cooling and dehumidification and
then by heating. if the dew point of the cooling coil is 10°C then find the following :
a- cooling coil capacity in tons of refrigeration and its bypass factor
b-the quantity of steam required per hour at 2 bar and saturated which is
used in the heating coil. Assume only latent heat is used for heating.

16- a cold dry air at 10°C and 60%RH is required for industrial process, when the
ambient conditions 41°C DBT and 25°C WBT .the required conditions are achieved
first by cooling and dehumidification and then by chemical dehumidification and
lastly by cooling. The dew point temperature of the cooling coil is 5°C and bypass
factor is 0.11.if the quantity of air supplied is 200 m3/min, find the capacities of
different equipments used.
17-saturated air at 5°C is first preheated and then saturated adiabatically and reheated
to a final condition of 40°C DBT and 30%RH.To what temperature must the air
,initially ,to be heated in the preheating coil.

18-moist air enters a refrigeration coil at 32°C DBT and 18°C WBT and at a rate of 500
L/s .the surface temperature of the coil is 5°C. if 3.5 tons of refrigeration are
available.
Find the dry bulb temperature of the air leaving the coil and moisture removed.