College of Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Psychrometric Chart Use G 83

Eileen Fabian Wheeler, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering

Psychrometric Chart and set of lines on the chart represent the air property of
Air Characteristics interest. Some practice with examples will help. Use
Figures 2 and 3 with the psychrometric chart in Figure
A psychrometric chart presents physical and thermal 1 to verify whether you can find each air property.
properties of moist air in a graphical form. It can be An understanding of the shape and use of the
very helpful in troubleshooting and finding solutions psychrometric chart will help you diagnose air
to greenhouse or livestock building environmental temperature and humidity problems. Note that cooler
problems. Understanding psychrometric charts can air (located along the lower, left region of the chart)
help you visualize environmental control concepts, will not hold as much moisture (as seen on the y-axis’
such as why heated air can hold more moisture or, humidity ratio) as warm air (located along right side of
conversely, how allowing moist air to cool will result chart). A rule of thumb for inside typical greenhouses
in condensation. This fact sheet explains how or animal buildings during winter conditions is that a
characteristics of moist air are used in a psychrometric 10°F rise in air temperature can decrease relative
chart. Three examples are used to illustrate typical humidity 20 percent. Use of a psychrometric chart will
chart use and interpretation. Properties of moist air are show that this is roughly true. For example, to
explained in the Definitions Sidebar for your reference decrease relative humidity in a winter greenhouse
during the following discussions. during a critical time period, we could heat the air.
Psychrometric charts are available in various
pressure and temperature ranges. Figure 1, on the next
page, is for standard atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi)
and temperatures of 30° to 120°F, which is adequate
for most greenhouse or livestock housing applications.
Psychrometric properties also are available as data
tables, equations, and slide rulers. Wet-Bulb
Temperature
A psychrometric chart packs a lot of information
into an odd-shaped graph. If we consider the
components piece by piece, the usefulness of the chart
will be clearer. Boundaries of the psychrometric chart Enthalpy Relative
Humidity
are a dry-bulb temperature scale on the horizontal axis,
a humidity ratio (moisture content) scale on the Dewpoint
vertical axis, and an upper curved boundary which Temperature
represents saturated air or 100-percent moisture
Humidity
holding capacity. The chart shows other important
Ratio
moist air properties as diagrammed in Figure 2: wet-
bulb temperature; enthalpy; dewpoint or saturation
temperature; relative humidity; and specific volume. Dry-Bulb Specific
See the Definitions Sidebar for an explanation of these Temperature Volume
terms. Moist air can be described by finding the
intersection of any two of these properties. This is Figure 2. Properties of moist air on a psychrometric chart.
called a "state point." From the state point all the other Wet-bulb temperature and enthalpy use the same chart line
properties can be read. The key is to determine which but values are read off seperate scales.
An Equal Opportunity University College of Agricultural Sciences, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Pennsylvania Counties Cooperating
 p
tion b or
tem
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Spe
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Use of Psychrometric Chart in dry-bulb line and the diagonal 65°F wet-bulb line has
Greenhouse and Barn now established a state point for the measured air.
Now read relative humidity as 50 percent (curving line
running from left to right up through the chart) and
Example 1 Find air properties dewpoint temperature as 58°F (follow horizontal line,
A sling psychrometer* gives a dry-bulb temperature of moving left, toward the curved upper boundary of
78°F and a wet-bulb temperature of 65°F. Determine saturation temperatures). This example is shown in
other moist air properties from this information. Two Figure 3 so you may check your work.
useful air properties for environmental analysis in What might we conclude from this information?
agricultural buildings would be relative humidity and The relative humidity of 50 percent is acceptable for
dewpoint temperature. Relative humidity is an most livestock and greenhouse applications. If we
indicator of how much moisture is in the air compared allowed the air temperature (dry-bulb) to decrease to
to desirable moisture conditions, and dewpoint 58°F (dewpoint) or below, the air would be 100
temperature indicates when condensation problems percent saturated with moisture and condensation
would occur should the (dry-bulb) temperature drop. would occur. The humidity ratio, as seen on the
Find the intersection of the two known properties, vertical, y-axis scale, is a reliable indicator of air
dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures, on the moisture level since it reflects the pounds of moisture
psychrometric chart, Figure 1. The dry-bulb contained in a pound of dry air and does not fluctuate
temperature is located along the bottom horizontal with dry-bulb temperature readings as does relative
axis. Find the line for 78°F, which runs vertically humidity. The humidity ratio for air in this example is
through the chart. Wet-bulb temperature is located about 0.0104 lb moisture/ lb dry air (move right
along diagonal dotted lines leading to scale readings at horizontally from state point to humidity ratio scale).
the upper, curved boundary marked “saturation
temperature.” The intersection of the vertical 78°F

ty
idi
m
/lb

Specific
Hu
Btu

Volume
ive

13.7 cu.ft./lb.
30

lat
Re
lpy

%
tha

Wet-Bulb
50
En

65°F

Humidity Ratio
Dewpoint 58°F
0.010 lb moisture/
We lb dry air
Sp

t-B
ulb
eci

and
En
fic

Figure 3. Diagram of Example 1. tha

lpy
Vo

Verify these values on

lum

psychrometric chart (Figure 1)

e

Dry-Bulb Temperature 78°F

*Sling psychrometer and other instruments are described in fact sheet G-81 Instruments for Measuring Air Quality,
Evaluating Livestock Housing Environments.
Example 2 Winter ventilation be useful in absorbing moisture from the plant or
Often air is heated before it is introduced into animal environment. (Verify that the heated air at
greenhouse or young-livestock building point B continues to have a dewpoint of 34°F and
environments. Consider an application where outdoor humidity ratio of 0.0042 lb moisture/ lb dry air.) The
air at 40°F (dry-bulb) temperature and 80 percent heated air, with its lower relative humidity, can be
relative humidity is heated to 65°F (dry-bulb) before mixed with moist, warm air already in the building.
it is distributed throughout the building. As fresh air moves through an animal environment, it
Find the state point for the incoming cool air on will pick up additional moisture and heat before it
the lower left portion of the psychrometric chart reaches the ventilation system exhaust. We might
(point A in Figure 4). Note that other properties of measure the exhausted air conditions at 75°F (dry-
the 40°F air include a wet-bulb temperature of 38°F, bulb) and 70 percent relative humidity, represented
a dewpoint temperature of about 34°F and humidity by point C in Figure 4. Note that in this exhausted
ratio of 0.0042 lb moisture/ lb dry air. Heating air air, the humidity ratio has tripled to 0.013 lb
involves an increase in the dry-bulb temperature with moisture/ lb dry air. This means that much more
no addition or reduction in the air’s water content. water is ventilated out of the building in the warm,
The heating process moves horizontally to the right moist exhaust air than is brought in by the cold, high
along a line of constant humidity ratio. See Figure 4 relative humidity incoming air. Removing moisture
for this heating process between points A and B. from the plant or animal environment is one of the
Heating the air to 65°F (dry-bulb) has resulted in major functions of a winter ventilation system.
decreasing the relative humidity to about 32 percent.
The heated air entering the building is dry enough to

y
Hu ty
dit
ive midi
mi

Figure 4. Diagram of Example 2.

Re e Hu

Outdoor air at 40°F, 80 percent

iv

Humidity Ratio
lat

relative humidity (point A is

lat
Re

heated to 65°F (point B) for use

%

ity
%

in ventilation. Exhaust air (point id

80

70

m
C) at 75°F and 70% relative Hu
humidity contains three times the ive
C lat
moisture of the fresh air (point A Re
% 0.013 lb moisture/
Add Moisutre

and B).
and Heat

32 lb dry air
Wet-Bulb
38°F
Dewpoint
34°F Heating
0.0042 lb moisture/
B lb dry air
A

40°F Dry-Bulb 65°F 75°

Temperature
 Definitions
The air surrounding us is a mixture of dry air and moisture temperature is allowed to decrease, the air can no longer
and it contains a certain amount of heat. We are used to hold as much moisture. When air is cooled, the relative
hearing about air temperature, relative humidity, and the humidity increases until saturation is reached and
dewpoint in discussions of weather conditions. All these condensation occurs. Condensation occurs on surfaces which
properties and more are contained in a psychrometric are at or below the dewpoint temperature. Dewpoint
chart. Chart shape and complexity take some getting used temperature is determined by moving from a state point
to. Refer to Figures 1 and 2. You will find that the upper horizontally to the left along lines of constant humidity ratio
curved boundary of the chart has one temperature scale, until the upper, curved, saturation temperature boundary is
yet can represent three types of temperature: wet-bulb, dry- reached.
bulb, and dewpoint. This upper curved boundary also
represents 100 percent relative humidity or saturated air. Enthalpy is the heat energy content of moist air. It is
expressed in Btu per pound of dry air and represents the
Dry-bulb temperature is the commonly measured heat energy due to temperature and moisture in the air.
temperature from a thermometer. It is called “dry-bulb” Enthalpy is useful in air heating and cooling applications.
since the sensing tip of the thermometer is dry (see “wet The enthalpy scale is located above the saturation, upper
bulb temperature” for comparison). Dry-bulb boundary of the chart. Lines of constant enthalpy run
temperature is located on the horizontal, or x-axis, of the diagonally downward from left to right across the chart.
psychrometric chart and lines of constant temperature are Lines of constant enthalpy and constant wet-bulb are the
represented by vertical chart lines. Since this same on this chart, but values are read from separate
temperature is so commonly used, assume that scales. More accurate psychrometric charts use slightly
temperatures are dry-bulb temperatures unless otherwise different lines for wet-bulb temperature and enthalpy.
designated.
Wet-bulb temperature is determined when air is
Relative humidity is a measure of the amount of water that circulated past a wetted sensor tip. It represents the
air can hold at a certain temperature. It is “relative” to the temperature at which water evaporates and brings the air
amount of water that air, at that same temperature, can hold to saturation. Inherent in this definition is an assumption
at 100 percent humidity, or saturation. Air temperature that no heat is lost or gained by the air. This is different
(dry-bulb) is important because warmer air can hold more from dewpoint temperature, where a decrease in
moisture than cold air. Air at 60 percent relative humidity temperature, or heat loss, decreases the moisture holding
contains 60 percent of the water it could possibly hold (at capacity of the air, causing water to condense.
that temperature). It could pick up 40 percent more water to Determination of wet-bulb temperature on this
reach saturation. Lines of constant relative humidity are psychrometric chart follows lines of constant enthalpy,
represented by the curved lines running from the bottom left but values are read off the upper, curved, saturation
and sweeping up through to the top right of the chart. The temperature boundary.
line for 100 percent relative humidity, or saturation, is the
upper, left boundary of the chart. Specific volume indicates the space occupied by air. It is
the inverse of density and is expressed as a volume per
The humidity ratio of moist air is the weight of the unit weight (density is weight per unit volume). Warm air
water contained in the air per unit of dry air. This is is less dense than cool air, which causes warmed air to
often expressed as pounds of moisture per pound of dry rise. This phenomena is known as thermal buoyancy. By
air. Since the humidity ratio of moist air is not dependent similar reasoning, warmer air has greater specific volume
on temperature, as is relative humidity, it is easier to use and is hence lighter than cool air. On the psychrometric
in calculations. Humidity ratio is found on the vertical, y- chart, lines of constant specific volume are almost vertical
axis with lines of constant humidity ratio running lines with scale values written below the dry-bulb
horizontally across the chart. temperature scale and above the upper boundary’s
saturation temperature scale. On this chart, values range
Dewpoint temperature indicates the temperature at which from 12.5 to 15.0 cubic feet/ pound of dry air. Greater
water will begin to condense out of moist air. Given air at a specific volume is associated with warmer temperatures
certain dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity, if the (dry-bulb).
Example 3 Evaporative cooling line of constant enthalpy or constant wet-bulb
Evaporative cooling uses heat contained in the air to temperature, for example, from point D to point E in
evaporate water. Air temperature (dry-bulb) drops Figure 5. Notice that hot dry air (points D to E with a
while water content (humidity) rises to the saturation 24° F temperature drop) has more capacity for
point. Evaporation is often used in hot weather to cool evaporative cooling than hot humid air (points F to G
ventilation air. The process moves upward along the with only a 12° F temperature decrease).

Figure 5. Diagram of Example 3.

Evaporative cooling process
with hot dry air from points D to
E and with hot humid air from
points F to G. Notice greater
evaporative cooling capacity
with dry air.

PSU/96

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