Masterclass: Psychometrics - Part 28

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1 April 2008
Masterclass: Psychometrics - Part 28
To recap on the last chapter, the definition of psychrometrics can be said to be the study of dry air
and water vapour mixtures.

Mike Creamer.

The only source of cooling on any air conditioning system is the evaporator coil. Therefore, in order
to remove heat from the space the heat must be transported in some way to the evaporator and the
obvious medium used is the air contained by the room which is recirculated through the evaporator
coil by the fan within the air handling unit.

In order to determine the quantity of air that has to pass through the evaporator we have to know the
total amount of heat that has to be removed. This total quantity of heat energy comprises two forms,
namely a given amount of sensible heat and the remaining amount of latent heat. The heat gain
calculation will determine the absolute maximum amounts of sensible and latent heat gains to the
space together with peak time of day and month of year. These two figures, sensible and latent heat,
will determine both the characteristics of the evaporator and size of the air handler.

The psychrometric chart will help us find the heat carrying capability of the air and enable us to
design the “air side” of an air conditioning system.

Figure 1
Masterclass: Psychometrics - Part 28

Figure 1 shows the outlines of the major functions. Dry bulb (db) temperatures are read vertically
from the X axis, until the db temperature lines intersect the saturation curve or wet bulb (wb) curve.
For example, the 20°C db line intersects the wb curve at 20°C. However wb lines slope diagonally to
the right and the 20°C wb line intersects all dry bulb temperatures greater than 20°C.

Horizontal lines intersecting the Y1 axis shows the moisture content of the air, in this example in
grams of moisture per kilogram (g/kg) of dry air. This is also known as absolute humidity.

The specific enthalpy of the air is read from the enthalpy scale in kJ/kg. Some charts use a separate
set of scales external to the body of the chart and one uses a straight edge on these scales to
determine the value within the area of the chart. Superimposed on the chart are lines of constant
volume better termed specific volume. These lines show the specific volume of the air in m3/kg.
Constant volume lines are usually shown widely spaced and readings have to be interpolated for a
given condition.

Percentage saturation (more popularly known as relative humidity %RH) is shown as dashed lines in
Fig 1 in order to differentiate between all the other lines shown on the chart and is termed %SAT.

Most charts enable the plotting of the sensible heat ratio (SHR) line. In Fig 1 this would be achieved
by transposing the process curve from the main body of the chart to the protractor shown upper left.

The processes that can be displayed and calculated from a psychrometric chart are shown in Fig 2.

Figure 2:The psychometric chart showing the process that can be displayed

If the starting point of the process is at (SP) on the chart and sensible heat only is applied or added to
the air then a horizontal line moving to the right of (SP) displays the characteristics of the air.
Conversely, if sensible heat energy only is removed from the air, the air is reduced in temperature
and is therefore cooled without any change in moisture content. This sensible cooling process results
in a horizontal line to the left of (SP).

The addition of latent heat to air results in an increase in moisture content (humidification). The
removal of latent heat energy has the reverse effect (dehumidification).

Any process that involves an increase in the moisture content (humidification) of the air is displayed
by a line moving above the (SP) point, while any process that decreases the moisture content of the
air can be shown by a line moving below the (SP) point. Therefore combinations of heating or
cooling combined with changes in the moisture content can be displayed by lines sloping upwards or
downwards from the (SP) point.

To place the statements made above into context we will examine the process displayed in Fig 3,
which shows a cooling process from a starting point (A) to finishing point (B). We are given point
(A) as 27°C db, 50%SAT, and point (B) as 21°C db, 17°C wb. Total cooling duty is 200kW.

Given the above information we can calculate the amount of sensible heat and latent heat (moisture
Masterclass: Psychometrics - Part 28

content) that is removed and how much air has to be circulated through the evaporator to achieve the
cooling duty.

Sensible heat and latent heat (moisture) removed:

Condition of air at (A): Enthalpy = 56.5 kJ/kg

Condition of air at (B): Enthalpy = 47.5 kJ/kg

Enthalpy difference (A)-(B) = 9.0 kJ/kg.

Moisture difference (A)-(B) = 0.0010 kJ/kg

Air and moisture circulated

Then mass flow required = 200 kW/ (9.0 / 3600) = 80000kg/h

Density of air entering evaporator = 0.86m3/kg

Volume of air required = 80000 x 0.866

Moisture removed = 80000 x 0.001 = 80kg/h

To establish the SHR (sensible heat/total heat) of the load on the evaporator, three methods can be
used.

Method 1

The simplest is to use the derived factor 1.2 as in the formula: qs = 1.2 x m3/s x (t1 – t2)

Where qs is sensible heat in kW and t1 is air db temperature at (A) and t2 is db temperature at (B).

Therefore qs = 1.2x19.24 x (27-21) = 138.56 kW and SHR = 138.56÷200 = 0.693 or 69.3%

Method 2

The second method is to use a combination of set squares or parallel rulers and transpose the angle of
the line drawn between (A) and (B) up to the sensible heat quadrant and read off the sensible heat
ratio.

Method 3

The third method is to draw a horizontal line from (A) until it intersects the dry bulb line for 21°C.
and then read off the enthalpy conditions at these two points. Then the following formula can be
applied:

qs = (v/d) x (h1 – h2)

Where v = volume of air in m3/s, d = density of air m3/kg, h1 enthalpy of air at (A) and h2 enthalpy
of air at intersection of 21°C db line.

h1 = 56.5 kJ/kg

h2 = 50.0 kJ/kg

qs = (19.24÷0.866) x (56.5 – 50.0)

= 144.41kW

SHR = 144.41÷200
Masterclass: Psychometrics - Part 28

= 72.2%

The third method is the more accurate but the difference between methods 1 and 3 is less than 3%
which is relatively small and is due to the derived factor of 1.2 being based on standard air. Method 2
is subject to the accuracy of transposing the cooling curve and the detail shown on the quadrant and
is therefore only useful as a check.

As can be seen from method 1, sensible heat determines the air volume to be circulated through the
system and latent heat is controlled by evaporator design and evaporation temperature. In order to
achieve the most efficient system it is important that the calculations accurately reflect the room
characteristics and the selection of equipment matches the SHR. By matching the sensible ratio there
will be no unnecessary humidification or dehumidification, both of which result in greater energy
consumption.

While a fully engineered system can be designed to match the required characteristics, this is not
always possible when installing standard packaged equipment, where the SHR of the equipment is
significantly different to that required. Under these circumstances the selection of equipment should
be based on matching the calculated air volume, not the total cooling capacity of the packaged unit.
The reason for this can be easily seen by exaggerating the slope of the SHR curve (say to 40%) in the
above example, then extending it to reach the required dry bulb temperature.

If the new conditions are calculated it will be seen that the total cooling duty will now very much
greater in order to achieve the required dry bulb temperature. Therefore if a packaged system had
been selected on the basis of having a total cooling capacity of 200kW but had an SHR of say 63% it
would not be able to achieve the required room temperature.

Proof:
Transposing qs = 1.2 x v x td
where td = air on to evaporator minus air off evaporator

Assume SHR 63% of total duty 200 kW = 126 kW = sensible heat, then:

td = 126 ÷ (1.2 x 19.24) = 5.46 °K

therefore = 27 – 5.46 = 21.5 °C air off

While in this instance the difference is only 0.5°C the effect will be compounded in as much that the
air on condition will rise and subsequently the air off will rise further.

It should be noted that psychrometric conditions vary with barometric pressure. Most charts will state
the pressure on which the data is based. Standard charts are based on a pressure of 101.325 kPa.

Now that the basis of arriving at air volume has been covered we will look at the mixing of two
streams of air to establish the resultant condition.

Assume that of the total volume of air circulated in the above example 10% was fresh air at 32°C db
and 25.8°C wb. We then have 1.924 m3/s at 32°C db, 25.8°C wb and 17.316 m3/s at 27°C db and
19.85°C wb (50% rh).

We can calculate the actual mixed condition of the air entering the duct using the following methods:

Method 1 (approximating mixed condition)

This method is an approximation since it does not take into consideration the different densities of
the ambient air and re-circulated air:

1. Mark the two points on the psychrometric chart and join together with a straight line and measure
the length of the line.

2. Calculate the equivalent of 10% of the line length.

3. Mark this length from the 27°C db/17°C wb point and this will locate the mixed condition of the
air.

4. If there is uncertainty from which point to locate the 10% mark on the line, simple logic will
indicate that since 90% of the air volume is at 27°C and only 10% at 32°C, the mixed condition will
Masterclass: Psychometrics - Part 28

be closer to 27°C than 32°C.

5. The resultant mixed condition will be 27.6°C wb 20.6°C wb.

Method 2

Method 2 is more accurate because air densities are taken into consideration;

1. Mark on the chart the two points, ambient air condition and re-circulated air condition.

2. From the psychrometric chart establish the density of the air at these two points;
Fresh air density is 0.89 m3/kg and re-circulated air 0.866 m3/kg.

Mass flow fresh air = 1.924 m3/s ÷ 0.89 m3/kg

Mass flow re-circ air = 17.316 m3/s ÷ 0.866m3/kg

Total mass flow of air = 22.16kg/s

Dry air mix = 20kg/s ÷ 22.16 kg/s x 27 = 24.368°C

Dry bulb condition of mixed air = 24.368 + 3.119 =

To establish wet bulb point of mixed air draw a vertical line from the dry bulb point until it intersects
the line between the fresh air and re-circulated air conditions, read the wet bulb temperature at the
point of intersection. In this example the result is virtually identical to the result in Method 1, ie
20.6°C.

Figure 3

NEXT MONTH: Part 29

Next month we look at the various methods of circulating the air and the constraints that
determine our choice of air handling.