Psychrometric processes

1. Adiabatic Mixing processes :

This is a common problem in air-containing, where ventilation air and some room air
are mixed prior to processing it to the desired state and supplying it to the conditioned space.

Fig.1 (a) shows the process of adiabatic mixing of different quantities

of air in two different states at constant pressure. Following equations are established-
By mass balance => ma1+ma2=ma3 ............(1)
By moisture balance => ma1w1+ma2w2=ma3w3 ……….(2)
By energy balance => ma1h1+ma2h2=ma3h3 .........(3)
Where, ma represents the mass of dry air.
Equation (2) => w3=(ma1w1+m2w2)/ma3
Equation (3)n => h3 = (m1h1+m2h2)/ma3
On the psychrometric chart, the final state lies on the straight line joining initial two
states and the final state 3 divides the straight line joining states 1 and 2 in the ratio of
ma1/ma2 such that
ma1/ma2=(Distance 2-3)/(Distance 3-1)

2. Mixing with condensation :

When a large quantity of cold air mixes with a quantity of warmer air at high relative
humidity, there is a possibility of condensation of water vapour and then mixture will consists
of saturated air and the condensate.
 Mixing with condensation rarely occurs in air-conditioning processes. However during
winter it is common phenomenon in nature for fog or frost to form due to mixing of cold air
near the earth surface with the humid and warm air which develops towards the evening or
after rains.

Fig 2(a) shows an adiabatic mixing process with condensation and the process is
represented on psychometric chart (fig.2 (b)). If this DBT of this mixture falls below 0 o, the
condensate may eventually freeze. It is to be noted that specific humidity of the mixture will
be reduced to w4 from w3 due to condensation and consequently the temperature of the air
would be increased to t4 from t3 due to release of latent heat of the condensate.
Let wc is the mass of condensate per unit mass of the mixture.
Thus, wc = w3- w4
 w4 = w3 - wc
 w4= (ma1w1 + m2w2)/ma1+ma2 - wc
And
ma4h4+ma4wchf4 = ma4h3
 h4 = h3 – wchf4
 h4 = (ma1h1 + ma2h2)/(ma1 + ma2) – wchf4
Where, hf4 = Enthalpy of the condensate at temperature t4 of the mixture.
Basic processes in air-conditioning system :
1) Sensible heating process – process OA

2) Sensible cooling process – process OB

3) Humidifying process – process OC

4) Dehumidifying process – process OD

5) Heating and humidifying – process OE

6) Cooling and dehumidifying – process OF

7) Cooling and humidifying – process OG

8) Heating and dehumidifying – process OH
Sensible heating or cooling :
Sensible heating means adding heating to air which raises the temperature of air. No
moisture is added and hence the vapour content remains same.

Thus the heat added only increases sensible heating of air and consequently total heat content
of air goes up.

Referring to fig 3(a),

By mass balance,

ma1 = ma2 = ma (say)

By moisture balance,

mv1 = mv2
 ma1w1 = ma2w2
 w1 = w2 = w (say)

By energy balance,
 Ma1h1 + Qs = ma2h2

 Qs = ma (h2 - h1)

= ma [(ha2 + w2hv2) – (ha1 + w1hv1)]

= ma [(ha2 – ha1) + w(hv2 – hv1)]

= ma[cpa(t2 – t1) + wcpv(t2 – t1)]

= ma[(cpa + wcpv)(t2 – t1)]

 Qs = macp( t2 – t1)

Heat gain in building will require the cooling of air to lower the temperature, causing a
cooling load on air-conditioning apparatus. However heat loss in building will require the
heat of air causing a heating load on the apparatus. In both cases it is called sensible heat
load.

It may be noted that, a sensible heating of air can be done to any desired temperatures,
where as a sensible cooling can be done only up to the DPT (td). of air. Cooling below this
temperature will result in condensation of moisture.

Humidification and Dehumidification (Latent Heat Process):

When the state of air changes along a constant DBT line such as 1-2 (fig.4), the moisture in
the form of vapour has to be transferred to change the humidity ratio of air. This transfer of
moisture is given by

G = ma (w2 – w1)

Due to this change of humidity ratio, there is also a change in the specific enthalpy of
air, which is given by (h2-h1). This change in enthalpy is considered to cause a latent heat
transfer given by

Q1 = ma(h2 - h1)

= ma[(cpt2 + w2hfgo) – (cpt1 + w1hfgo)]

= mahfgo(w2 – w1) [since, t1 = t2]

If a building gains or loss moisture, it is supposed to have a latent heat load. A gain of
moisture will require the condensation of moisture for the dehumidification of air in the air
containing apparatus and hence a cooling load. On the other hand, a loss of moisture will
require the evaporation of water for humidification of air in the apparatus and hence a heating
load.

Total heat process:

Let the change of state of takes place along the path AC (fig.5). In this process both the
change in temperature and change in humidity ratio are involved.

The change in temperature cause a sensible heat load given by

QS = ma(hB – hA)

= macp(tB – tA)

The change in humidity ratio causes a moisture transfer given by

G = ma(wC - wA)

And a latent heat load given by

QL = ma(hC - hB)

= mahfgo(wC - wB)

QL = Ghfgo

Thus, total load is given by

Q = QS + QL

= ma(hB - hA) + ma(hC - hB)

Q = ma(hC - hA)

Sensible heat factor: (SHF)

The ratio of sensible heat transfer to the total heat transfer is known as the sensible heat
factor or sensible heat ratio (SHR).

i.e. SHR = QS(QS + QL)

In the fig.5, it is seen that point B divides the total enthalpy change (hC - hA) in the ratio
of SHF and (1 - SHF). The sensible heat transfer taking place along AB is proportional to
SHF and latent heat transfer along BC is proportional to (1 - SHF). The process line AC is
called sensible heat factor or condition line.

The SHF fixes the slope of the condition line on the psychrometric chart. Constant
sensible heat factor slope lines are also show on the psychrometric chart.
 A unit value of SHF means there is no latent heat transfer and the SHF line is
horizontal in the psychrometric chart. However a zero value of SHF means there is no
sensible heat transfer and the SHF line is vertical in the psychometric chart.

Bypass Factor (BPF) B or X:

In any cooling or heating apparatus there is some air which does not make contact, with
surface of the apparatus and escapes directly, by-pass the apparatus. Let 3 kg of air at
temperature t1 is the passed over the surface of a coil whose surface temperature is
maintained at ts (Fig.6(a)) and the air is coming out of the coil at t2. this can be assumed that 1
kg air out of 3 kg is by-passed and remaining (3-1)kg of air is coming out at temperature ts.
Thus by-pass factor of an air conditioning apparatus represents the fraction of uncontacted air
in terms of the states 1, 2 and S (fig.6 (b))

B = (t2 - ts)/(t1 - ts)

= (w2 – ws)/(w1 - ws)

= (h2 - hs)/(h1 - hs)

Contact Factor : (1 - B)
It is the mass of air actually comes in contact with the air conditioning apparatus. It can
also be termed as efficiency of the apparatus.
Cooling with dehumidification:
The removal of water vapour from air is termed as dehumidification of air. The
dehumidification is only possible if the air is cooled below dew point temperature of air.
Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the coiol surface temperature below DPT of air for
effective dehumidification. The process is common in summer air conditioning.

The process of cooling dehumidification is shown in fig.7

Let, t1 = Temperature of air entering the coil.

t2 = Temperature of air leaving the coil.

ts = Coil surface temperature

td = Dew point temperature of air

Under ideal condition, the air coming out of the coil will be at condition S. Since no
coil is 100% efficiency, therefore the condition of the air coming out of the coil will be
represent by point 1 and S depending upon the coil efficiency.

In this case, by-pass factor of the cooling coil is given by

B = (t2 - tS)/(t1 – tS)

= (h2 - hS)/(h1 - hS)

 = (w2 - wS)/(w1 - wS)

The temperature tS corresponding to the point S shown on the saturation line is known
as Apparatus Dew Point and is denoted by ADP

Since, B = (t2 – tADP)/(t1 - tADP)

The total heat removed from air is

Q = h1 – h2

= (h1 – h3) + (h3 – h2)

=> Q = QS + QL
Cooling with adiabatic humidification (adiabatic evaporative cooling):

When the air is passed through a spray chamber (fig. 8(a)), where a large quantity is
constantly circulated, then a part of this water will be evaporated and is carried with the air by
increasing the specific humidity of the air. The increase in specific humidity is equal to the
quantity of water evaporated per unit mass of dry air. Since no heat transfer takes place
between the chamber and surroundings, therefore heat required for the evaporation of water is
taken from the air itself by decreasing the temperature (DBT) of air and the enthalpy of air
remains constant. After the process has been in operation for a sufficient length of time, the
circulating water approaches the WBT of air. The path followed by the cooling with adiabatic
humidifying of air is along the constant enthalpy line (fig. (b)).
Effectiveness of spray chamber (ϵ) is defined as
ϵ = actual drop in DBT/ ideal drop in DBT = (T3 – T1) / (T2 – T1)
Adiabatic chemical dehumidification:
Some substances like silica gel (product of fused sodium silicate and sulphuric acid)
and activated alumina have great affinity with water vapour. They are called absorbents.
When the high humid air is passed through a bed of absorbent, water vapour molecules get
absorbed reducing the vapour content in the air. The latent heat liberated is absorbed by the
air increasing its DBT and the total heat of the air remains constant. So the process of
chemical dehumidification follows the path along constant enthalpy line (fig. 9).

Effectiveness of dehumidifier is defined as

ϵ = (T3 – T1) / (T2 – T1)
where, T2 = maxm possible temperature of the out coming air

Humidification by steam injection:

Steam injection can be used for increasing the specific humidity of the air. This process
applied for the conditioning of the textile mills where high humidity has to be maintained.
 The mixing of air and steam is represented along a constant DBT line (1-2) as shown
in (fig 10.b) provided the steam is dry and saturated and none of the steam is condensed
during mixing.
If mv is the mass of steam and ma is the mass of dry air, then the condition of the
leaving air can be calculated by using mass and energy balance
w2 = w1 + mv/ma
h2 = h1 + mv/ma. hv

Air washer:
Spray devices using directly recirculated water which comes in contact with the flow
of moist air is called an air washer. A schematic representation of air washer is shown in fig.
11(a).

During the course of flow of air through the spray of water, the air may be cooled or
heated, humidified or dehumidified or simply adiabatically saturated depending upon the
mean surface temperature of water. The water is accordingly, externally cooled or heated or
simply recirculated by a pump. Make up water is added for any loss during humidification of
air. Eliminator plates are used to minimize physical carryover of water droplets with the air
stream.
The thermodynamic changes of state of air along paths 1-2 (a, b, c……) in an air
washer depending on the mean surface temperature of water droplets ‘ts’ are shown in fig.
11(b).

Process 1-2a: Heating and humidification:

Mean surface temperature of water ‘ts’ is greater than DBT of air entering the air
washer ‘t1’, i.e., ts>t1. The circulating water is required to be externally heated.
 Process 1-2b: Humidification: ts = t1
The water is externally heated.

Process 1-2c: Cooling and humidification:

t 1 ' < t s < t1
Though air is cooled, its enthalpy increases as a result of humidification. The water is
required to be heated externally.

Process 1-2d: Adiabatic saturation: ts= t1'

In this process, the water is recirculated without externally heating or cooling and
recirculated water reaches the equilibrium temperature which is equal to the WBT of air.

Process 1-2e: Cooling and humidification:

td < t' < t1'
This process is similar to 1-2c process with the difference that the enthalpy of air decreases in
this case. Accordingly water is required to be externally cooled.

Process 1-2f: Cooling: ts = td

The temperature of water ts is equal to the dew point temperature of air td, water is
required to be cooled.

Process 1-2g: Cooling and dehumidification: ts < td

The mean surface temperature of water ts is lower than the DPT of air td. Air is
simultaneously cooled and dehumidified.
It is thus seen that the air washer affords means for a year-round air conditioning system.

Analysis:
 Let ma and mw be the rates of mass flow of dry air and water respectively in an air
washer. The energy balance gives
ma (h2 – h1) = mwcpwtw3 – [mw – ma (w2 – w1)]ccwtw4
ma (h2 – h1) = mwcpw (tw3 – tw4) + ma (w2 – w1)ccwtw4
 ma [(h2 – w2cpwtw4) - (h1 – w1cpwtw4)] = mwcpw(tw3 – tw4)
 ma [(h2 – w2hf) - (h1 – w1hf)] = mwcpw(tw3 – tw4)
 ma [∑2 - ∑1] = mwcpw(tw3 – tw4)
Thus for any section of air washer

ma d∑ = mwcpwdtw
For the case of adiabatic saturation process, d∑ = 0
Hence, dtw =0 and tw3 = tw4
The humidifying efficiency of an air washer is defined as
ȠH = (h2 – h1)/ (ss – h1) = (w2 – w1)/ (ws – w1)
And the bypass factor ‘B’ can be defined as
B = (ws – w1)/ (ws – w1) = 1 - (w2 – w2)/ (ws – w1) = 1 - ȠH