BRE2031 Environmental Science:

Lecture 5 Psychrometrics
Dr. Meng Ni ( )
Associate Professor
Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong
Kong Polytechnic University
Office: ZN713
Tel: 2766 4152
Email: bsmengni@polyu.edu.hk
1

Content
1. Moist air and their properties
2. Psychrometric chart
3. Psychrometric process analysis

Objectives
After studying this lecture, you will be able to:
1. Understand the physical meaning of moist air properties
2. Read moist air properties from the psychrometric chart.
3. Determine heat addition for heating/cooling of moist air.
2

Basic concepts
The surrounding air is a mixture of dry air and water
vapor moist air, plus some pollutants;
Psychrometrics is a subject of studying how moist air
behaves when it is cooled or heated;
It is a tool to analyze typical air-conditioning processes.
Dry air
Atmospheric
air

Moist air
Water vapor
Various pollutants
3

Illustration of Daltons law Concept of partial pressure

For the mixture of gases
A and B, pmix = pA + pB
pA is the pressure gas
A would have if gas A
is alone in the tank.
From ideal gas law, the
pressure of gas depends on
its number of moles (at a
given temperature and
volume)

RT
P=n
V
nmixture = nA + nB

For a mixture of gases occupying a given volume at a certain temperature, the total pressure
4
of the mixture is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the constituents of the mixture.

Atmospheric pressure
Standard atmospheric pressure at the sea level:
P=101.325 (kPa) = 14.696 (psi) = 30 (In. Hg)
For the elevation above the sea level H<1220 m (or <4000 ft):
P=101.325-0.01153H (kPa)
An elevation increase by
P=29.92-0.001025H (In. Hg)
1m, how many Pascal
decrease?
For H>1220 m (or >4000 ft):
P=99.436-0.010H (kPa)
P=29.42-0.0009H (In. Hg)
Pressure can be measured by height of water or other liquid.
psi: pound force per square inch

Composition of Dry and Moist Air

Atmospheric air contains many gaseous components as well as
water vapor and miscellaneous contaminants (e.g., smoke, pollen, and
gaseous pollutants not normally present in free air far from pollution
sources).

Dry air is atmospheric air with all water vapor and contaminants
removed. Its composition is relatively constant, but small variations in the
amounts of individual components occur with time, geographic location, and
altitude.

Moist air is a binary (two-component) mixture of dry air and water

vapor.
Saturation is a state of neutral equilibrium between moist air and the
condensed water phase (liquid or solid); Air sample in a saturation state
contains the maximum amount of vapor possible at a given
Temperature.
6

A Microscopic Comparison of Gases, Liquids and Solids

In a liquid
Molecules are in random
motion;
There
are
appreciable
intermolecular forces holding
molecules close together
7

LIQUID

Add energy
VAPOR
break IM bonds
make IM bonds
Remove energy

<---condensation

On the physics of saturation in a closed system

Evaporation process

Molecules in liquid water

attract each other
In motion

Collisions
Molecules near surface
gain velocity by collisions

9
(courtesy T.S. Zhao)

Evaporation
Fast moving molecules leave
the surface (Only those with
enough KE escape)
Evaporation
Evaporation is a cooling
process.
It requires heat.
Endothermic.

Twater

Rate of evaporation
Function of water temperature

10

Evaporation
Soon, there are many water
molecules in the air

Slower molecules return

to water surface
Condensation
Change from gas to liquid

11

Evaporation
Net Evaporation
Number leaving water
surface is greater than
the number returning
Evaporation greater
than condensation
Evaporation continues
to pump moisture into
air
Water vapor increases
with time

Net Evaporation

12

Equilibrium

Eventually, equal rates of

condensation and evaporation
Air is saturated
Equilibrium

At Equilibrium Rate of evaporation is a

function of temperature;
Rate of condensation depends on water
vapor mass; Also a function of temperature
Evaporation = f(T)
Condensation = f(T)
Rate of
evaporation

Rate of
condensation

Achieves a dynamic equilibrium

with vaporization in a closed
system.
A closed system means matter cant
go in or out.

Tair = Twater
Any difference between evaporation and boiling?

13

Vaporization (evaporation)

Vaporization is an endothermic process - it requires heat.

Energy is required to overcome intermolecular forces
Responsible for cool earth.
Why we sweat ?

Boiling
A liquid boils when its temperature reaches its boiling point
Normal Boiling point is the temperature a substance boils at
1 atm pressure.
The temperature of a liquid can never rise above its boiling
point.
14

Changing the Boiling Point

Lower the pressure (going up into the mountains).
Lower vapor pressure means lower boiling point.
Food cooks slower.

Raise the external pressure (Use a pressure cooker).

Raises the boiling point.
Food cooks faster.

15

Moist Air
Dry air + Water vapor = Moist air
T

Pda

Typically M w << M da
Moist Air: Mda+Mw=m
nRT
p=
= pda + pw
V

thus

pw << pda

Pw is called partial pressure

of water vapor.

16

Humidity Parameters
Humidity ratio W (alternatively, the moisture content
or mixing ratio) of a given moist air sample is defined
as the ratio of the mass of water vapor to the mass of
dry air in the sample:

mass of water vapor M w

=
W=
mass of dry air
M da
N total X w (mole) 18.015268 ( g / mole )
=

N total X da (mole)
28.966 ( g / mole ) X = N w Molar fraction of
w
N total water vapor.
X w 18.015268
Xw
=

= 0.622
Number of moles of water vapor
X da
X da
28.966
over the total number of mole of
the gas mixture.

Xw
is the molar fraction ratio of water vapor and dry air.
X da

Xw
pw
pw
W = 0.622
= 0.622
= 0.622(
)
X da
pda
p pw

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Humidity Parameters
Specific humidity is the ratio of the mass of water vapor to total mass
Mw
of the moist air sample:
Mw
M da
W
=
=
Very close to W
M w + M da M w + M da 1 + W
M da M da
Absolute humidity (alternatively, water vapor density) dv is the ratio of
the mass of water vapor to total volume (V) of the sample:

dv = M w / V
Density of a moist air mixture is the ratio of total mass to total volume:

= ( M da + M w ) / V
Saturation humidity ratio Ws(t, p) is the humidity ratio of moist air saturated
with respect to water (or ice) at the same temperature t and pressure p.
Degree of saturation is the ratio of air humidity ratio W to humidity
ratio Ws of saturated moist air at the same temperature and pressure:

W
=
Ws

Ws = 0.622
t, p

pws
p pws

18

Relative Humidity
Relative humidity (RH) is the ratio of the mole fraction of water
vapor xw in a given moist air sample to the mole fraction xws in an air
sample saturated at the same temperature and pressure:

xw
=
xws

t, p

pw
=
pws

t, p

xws increases with T;

warmer air can hold more
moisture than cold air.

The ratio of actual water vapor content to the maximum possible moisture content at a
given temperature and pressure.
pws is the saturated vapor pressure (SVP) the vapor pressure of the water vapor in an
air sample that contains the maximum amount of vapor possible at that temperature.

Change in RH can come from:

Change in air temperature or pressure
For a constant air temperature, RH increases with addition of water vapor
For a constant water vapor pressure, increase in air temperature lowers the RH
Highest RH occurs in the early morning (coolest time corresponds to the highest
RH); lowest RH occurs during the warmest part of the afternoon.
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RH highest in the cool morning; lowest in warmest time

Why droplets are usually

observed in the morning time?
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Saturated Vapor Pressure (SVP) of water vapor

Temperature (oC)

SVP (Pa)

Temperature (oC)

SVP (Pa)

610

13

1497

657

14

1598

705

15

1704

758

16

1818

813

17

1937

872

18

2063

935

19

2197

1001

20

2337

1072

25

3166

1148

30

4242

10

1227

40

7375

11

1312

50

12351

12

1402

100

101325
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An example
A sample of air has an RH of 40% at a temperature of 20oC. Calculate
the vapor pressure of the air.
What we know?
T = 20oC SVP = 2337 Pa

RH = 40%

xw
=
xws

t, p

pw
=
pws

t, p

pw
=
= 40%
2337

pw = 2337 40% = 934.8Pa

1 millibars (mb) = 100 Pa

22

Humidity Parameters
Dew-point temperature td is the temperature of moist air saturated at
pressure p, with the same humidity ratio W as that of the given sample of
moist air. It is defined as the solution td( p, W) of the following equation:
At which a fixed sample of air becomes
saturated (condensation occurs).

Ws ( p, td ) = W

Dew or condensation

When moist air is considered a mixture of independent ideal gases (i.e., dry
air and water vapor), each is assumed to obey the ideal gas equation of state
as follows:

pdaV = nda RT

Dry air:

Water vapor:

pwV = nw RT

V: total volume of the mixture; pda and pw are partial pressures of dry air and water vapor;
nda and nw are the number of moles of dry air and water vapor.

The mixture also obeys the perfect gas equation:

pV = nRT

( pda + pw )V = ( nda + nw ) RT
where p = pda + pw is the total mixture pressure and n = nda + nw is the total
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number of moles in the mixture.

How to measure the energy of moist air ?

Enthalpy
The unit of enthalpy (H) is J or kJ.
Specific enthalpy (enthalpy per unit mass): h = H/m (J/kg, or kJ/kg)
Sensible energy (sensible heat)
Latent energy (latent heat)

How to measure the amount of moist air?

The specific volume v of a moist air mixture is expressed in
terms of a unit mass v = V/M
(m3/kg)
da

Mass of dry air

Why is v based on mass of dry air?

v=

da

Density of dry
3)
air (kg/m
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Hygrometry (Psychrometry) measurement of humidity

Hygrometers (Psychrometers) instruments that measure the humidity of air
Hair/paper hygrometers: make use of the fact that hair or paper
change their dimensions with changing moisture content.

Dew-point hygrometer: measuring the dew-point temperature by

cooling a surface until water vapor condenses on it (then use the dew-point
T and room T to obtain an RH from tables/charts).

Wet-and-dry-bulb hygrometer: measuring the difference between the

wet and dry thermometers, as it indicates the relative humidity (from tables).

Electronic hygrometer: electronic sensors whose resistance changes with

changing humidity (this affect the amount of water absorbed by the sensors
from the air).

Psychrometric Chart

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Content
1. Moist air and their properties
2. Psychrometrics chart
3. Psychrometric process analysis

26

Psychrometric Chart
Dry-bulb temperature t: ordinary air temperature
Wet-bulb temperature twb: temperature read by a thermometer
wrapped in a wet fabric.
Are they the same?
Which one is larger?
Humidity ratio W
Relative humidity
Partial pressure of water vapor pw
enthalpy of moist air: h = hda + Whw
hda is the specific enthalpy of dry air (kJ/kgda)
hw is the specific enthalpy of water vapor (kJ/kgda)
Approximately,

t is in oC

hda 1.006t

At 0oC, the specific enthalpy of dry air is set as 0.

hw 2501 + 1.86t

Once two of the above properties are

known, the others can be readily
found out from a two-dimensional
chart Psychrometric Chart.

The specific enthalpy of water vapor at

0oC is 2501 kJ/kg.

Why is the specific enthalpy based

27
on kg dry air?

Psychrometric Chart

pw

twb

twb
twb

Dry-bulb temperature
28

Psychrometric Chart

29

Psychrometric chart
There are 2 horizontal lines:
1.
2.

Solid lines are moisture content

(humidity ratio)
Dashed lines are vapor pressure

Search the interception of two

curves to find the state of
moisture air.
Linear
interpolation
should be done
when
necessary.

30

Examples
Moist air sample has a dry
bulb temperature of 10oC,
humidity ratio (moisture
content) of 0.003 kg/kg
dry air, find (1) the wetbulb temperature; (2)
vapor pressure (millibars);
And (3) relative humidity
Answer:
(1) Wet-bulb T: 4.5oC
(2) Vapor pressure:
About 4.85millibars
(3) Relative humidity:
About 40%.
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Examples
Moist air sample has a dry
bulb temperature of 15oC,
wet-bulb temperature of
11oC, find (1) humidity
ratio (moisture content);
(2) vapor pressure
(millibars);
And (3) relative humidity
Answer:
(1) Humidity ratio:
0.0066 kg/kg dry air
(2) Vapor pressure:
About 10.5millibars
(3) Relative humidity:
About 60%.

32

Another example - Textbook

External air at 0oC and 80% RH is
heated to 18oC. Use the
Psychrometric chart to determine
the following information:
(1) The RH of the heated air;
(2) The RH of the heated air
if 0.005kg/kg of moisture
is added;
(3) The temperature at which
this moistened air would
first condense.

33

Another example - Textbook

(1) When the moist air is heated, the
mass of dry air and vapor does not
change. So the moisture content
remain unchanged!
RH: 23%
(2) When 0.005kg/kg of moisture is
added, the moisture content become:
0.003 + 0.005 = 0.008 kg/kg
RH: 62%
(2) For condensation
(dew), RH = 100%,
moisture content of
0.008kg/kg
Dew point: 10.8 oC

34

An exercise
Moist air sample has a dry
bulb temperature of 15oC,
relative humidity of 90%,
find (1) wet-bulb
temperature;(2) humidity
ratio (moisture content);
(3) vapor pressure
(millibars); and (4) dew
point.
Answer:
(1) wet-bulb T:
14.2oC;
(2) Humidity ratio:
0.0097 kg/kg dry air;
(3) Vapor pressure:
About 15.3millibars
(4) Dew point:
14.3oC.

35

Psychrometrics

36

An example - ASHRAE
Moist air exists at 40C dry-bulb temperature, 20C
thermodynamic wet-bulb temperature, and 101.325 kPa
pressure. Determine the humidity ratio, enthalpy, dew-point
temperature, relative humidity, and specific volume.

Why is the specific volume based on dry air?

37

38

The example
Moist air exists at 40C dry-bulb temperature, 20C
thermodynamic wet-bulb temperature, and 101.325 kPa
pressure. Determine the humidity ratio, enthalpy, dew-point
temperature, relative humidity, and specific volume.
Humidity ratio: 0.0065 kg/kg dry air
Enthalpy: about 56.7 kJ/kgda
Dew point temperature: 7oC
Relative humidity: 14%
Specific volume: 0.896 m3/kgda

39

Content
1. Moist air and their properties
2. Psychrometrics chart
3. Psychrometric process analysis

40

Psychrometric processes

41

Psychrometric
Processes

42

Analysis of Psychrometric Systems

Heat Q
Moist air
1 =m
da1 + m
w1
m

Moist air
2 =m
da2 + m
w2
m

w
m

Liquid or vapor

The property with a dot above it means the rate form.

m : mass (kg)
i

m : rate of mass flow (kg/s)

E : Energy (kJ)
i

E : Rate of energy flow (kJ/s, or kW)

43

Mass & Energy Conservation Equations

Mass
RATE OF

MASS FLOW MASS FLOW

=
MASS
Generation/Consumption
RATE

RATE

INTO C.V. OUT C.V.

in THE C.V.

Energy
RATE OF
RATE OF

ENERGY
INTO

ENERGY
OUT

C.V.
OF C.V.

RATE OF ENERGY
= Gen/Consumption
in the C.V.

Typical Assumptions

Steady state, steady flow

No work
Kinetic energy change is zero - usually
Potential energy change is zero - usually

C.V. Control volume, in

thermodynamics, it is also
called system
44

Mass Equation
No mass gen/con in the C.V.
Mass flowing into the CV = Mass flowing out of the CV

m da1 + m w1 + m w = m da2 + m w2
da1 = m
da2 = m
da
Dry air: m
w1 + m
w =m
w2
Water(vapor): m
Mw
W=
M da
Then we
can get:

m w1 = m da W1 and m w2 = m da W2

w =m
da (W2 W1)
m

W2>W1: humidifying
45
W2<W1: dehumidifying

Energy Equation
ENERGY

RATE IN

ENERGY

RATE IN

= Q

ENERGY

=
RATE OUT
i

ENERGY
=

RATE OUT

w hw + m
da hda1+ m
da W1h w1
+m

da hda2 +m
da W2 h w2
m

Energy (specific heat) added

when adding water vapor

da hda1+ m
da W1h w1
w hw + m
Q+ m
Thus

da hda2 + m
da W2 h w2
=m
46

Energy Equation
i

da hda1+ m
da W1h w1
w hw + m
Q+ m
da hda2 + m
da W2 h w2
=m
w =m
da (W2 W1)
m
i

da ( W2 W1 ) hw + m
da ( hda1 + W1h w1 ) m
da ( hda2 + W2 h w2 ) = 0
Q +m
Read from ASHRAE Psychrometric chart
Why is the specific enthalpy based on the mass of dry air?
47

Classic Moist Air Processes

The following typical processes of moist air are
frequently encountered in air conditioning applications:

Heating of moist air;

Cooling of moist air;
Cooling and dehumidification of moist air;
Heating and humidification of moist air;
Mixing process of moist air streams.

In each of the following examples, the process takes

place at a constant total pressure of 101.325 kPa.
48

Moist Air Heating or Cooling

Adding heat alone to or removing heat alone from moist air is represented by
a horizontal line on the Psychrometric chart, because the humidity ratio
remains unchanged.

w =m
da (W2 W1)
m

Below figure shows a device that adds heat to a stream of moist air. For
steady-flow conditions, the required rate of heat addition is
i

da ( W2 W1 ) hw + m
da ( hda1 + W1h w1 ) m
da ( hda2 + W2 h w2 ) = 0
Q +m
i

Q = m da ( h2 h1 )
1

m da
h1
W1

h1 = hda1 + W1h w1
Heating coil
Q

h2 = hda2 + W2 h w2

m da
h2
W2
49

Heating of moist air

Q = m da (h2 h1 )
h2

h1
W1
t1

tdb

t2
50

An example heating/cooling
Moist air, saturated at 2C, enters a heating coil at a rate of 10
m3/s. Air leaves the coil at 40C. Find the required rate of heat
addition.
State 1 is located on the saturation curve at 2C. Thus, h1 =
13.0 kJ/kg, W1 = 4.38 gw/kg, and v1 = 0.785 m3/kgda. State 2 is
located at the intersection of t = 40C and W2 = W1 = 4.38
gw/kg. Thus, h2 = 51.5 kJ/kg. The mass flow is:

10m3 / s
mda = Q / v =
= 12.74kg / s
3
0.785m / kg da
i

q = m da ( h2 h1 ) = 12.74kg da / s ( 51.5 13.0 ) kJ / kg da = 490kW

Why is the specific volume based on mass of dry air?
51

Cooling of Moist Air

Cooling
coil i
Q

m da

m da

h1
W1

da1 = m
da2 = m
da
Mass balance: m
Energy balance: Q = m da (h1 h2 )

h2
W2

w1 = m
w2
m

52

Cooling of Moist Air

Q = m da (h1 h2 )
h1

h2
W1
t2

tdb

t1
53

An exercise
Outside air at dry bulb temperature of 5oC, 80% RH enters a preheater
coil and leaves at 24oC (dry bulb). The air volume flow rate is 6.5
m3/s. Find (a) the outdoor air wet-bulb temperature and specific
volume; (b) the heated air moisture content and RH; and (c) the
heating coil power (rate of heating addition to the coil)

Find the enthalpy of the air sample before the coil and after the
coil, the change in enthalpy is caused by the preheater.

54

The exercise

55

Cooling and Dehumidification

m da

Cooling
coil i
Q

m da

h1
W1

h2
W2
3

56

Cooling and Dehumidification

What if the supply air temperature is higher than 14oC?

57

Heating and Humidifying

Heating coil
1

m da

m da

h1
W1

h2
W2
a

m whw

58

Heating and Humidifying

h2
W

ha
2
h1
1

t1

a
tdb

W2
W1

t2
59

Adiabatic mixing of two moist air streams

m da ,1h1 + m da ,2 h2 = m da ,3 h3
m da ,1 + m da ,2 = m da ,3
m da ,1W1 + m da ,2W2 = m da ,3W3
60

m da ,1h1 + m da ,2 h2 = ( m da ,1 + m da ,2 ) h3
m da ,1 ( h1 h3 ) = m da ,2 ( h3 h2 )
h3 h2 ) m da ,1
(

=
( h1 h3 ) m da,2

m da ,1W1 + m da ,2W2 = ( m da ,1 + m da ,2 ) W3
W3 W2 ) m da ,1 ( h3 h2 )
(

=
=
(W1 W3 ) m da,2 ( h1 h3 )

61

Thank you very much for your attention!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any
questions.
Meng Ni
ZN713
Tel: 2766 4152 (office)
Email: bsmengni@polyu.edu.hk
62