Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Psychrometry
The psychrometry is that branch of engineering science, which deals with the study of moist air,
i.e., dry air mixed with water vapour or humidity. It also includes the study of behaviour of dry
air and water vapour mixture under various sets of conditions. Through the earth's atmosphere is
a mixture of gases including nitrogen, oxygen, argon and carbon dioxide, yet for the purpose of
psychrometry, it is considered to be as a mixture of dry air and water vapour only.
I
66
11. Dew point temperature: It is the temperature of air recorded by a thermometer, when
the moisture (water vapour) present in it begins to condense. In other words, the dew
point temperature is the saturation temperature corresponding to the partial pressure of
water vapour (Pc), It is, usually, denoted by tdp. Since P, is very small, the saturation
temperature by water vapour at P, is also low (less than the atmospheric or dry bulb
temperature). Thus the water vapour in air exists in the superheated state and the moist air
containing moisture in such a form i.e., in superheated state is said to be "unsaturated
air". This condition is shown by point 'A' on T-s diagram as shown in the fig. When the
partial pressure of water vapour is equal to saturation pressure, (Ps), the water vapour is in
dry condition and the air will be "Saturated air".
t
!!!
:::,.
~ T-S diagram
8.
E fdr,= tsal
...
Q) .r.---I--------'l~
- Entropy ---
67
Dry bulb
merrnorneter
Wet bulb
therrr:>meter
Sling Psychrometer
Bulb covered
with wetted.
wick
Psychometer relations:
1. Specific humidity, humidity ratio or moisture content: It is the ratio of mass of water
vapour present to the mass of dry air in a given volume of the air- vapour mixture and is
denoted by the symbol 'w'
Mathematically: W = my / m,
Let Pa, Va, Ta, m, & R, are the pressure, volume, temperature, mass and gas constant
respectively for dry air.
Py, Vy, Ty, my & R, are the corresponding values for the water vapour.
Assuming the dry air and water vapour behave like a perfect gas:
We have: For dry air: Pa Va = maRaTa ---------- (1)
For water vapour: P vVy = m.R, T v ---------- (2)
Also Va = Vy, T, = T, = Td (Dry bulb temp)
Py myRy
From 1 and 2: - ---
Pa maRa
:. Humidity ratio = W =
WKT: R, = 0.287 kJ/kgOk for dry air and R, = 0.461 kJ/kgOk for water vapour
0.287 r,
:.W= 0.461 X Fa
:. W = 0.622
. ,
I W~O.622
68
Consider unsaturated air containing
superheated vapour at dry bulb
temperature td and partial pressure P v
as shown by the point ' A' on T-s
diagram. If water is added into this
unsaturated air, the water will
evaporate which will increase the
moisture content (specific humidity) of f
the air and the partial pressure P v
increases. This will continue until the
water vapour becomes saturated at that
temperature, as shown by point 'C' in
the figure and there will be more
evaporation of water. The partial
--- Entropy _
pressure P, increases to the saturation
pressure P, and it is the maximum
partial pressure of water vapour at
temperature td. The air containing
moisture in such a state (point C) is T-S diagram
called "Saturated air".
For saturated air, the maximum humidity ratio or maximum specific humidity
Ws = Wman:is given by P
Ws = Wman= 0.622 * P~P
b- s
Where: P, = Partial pressure of air corresponding to saturation temp i.e., dry bulb temp td.
-r k]
P, - P,
OR =~
1- Py
Pb
3. Relative humidity: It is defined as the ratio of actual mass of water vapour (my) in a
given volume of moist air to the mass of water vapour (m.) in the same volume of
saturated air at the same temperature and pressure and is denoted by the symbol. 0
Mathematically 0 =
Let Py, Vy, Ty, my. & R, = Pressure, volume, temperature, mass and gas constant
respectively for water vapour in actual conditions.
& Ps, Vs, Ts, m, & R, = Corresponding values for water vapour in saturated air.
69
:. For water vapour:
1. In actual conditions: Pv Vv = m, R, T, -------- (1)
2. In saturated air: P, Vs = m, R, T, -------- (2)
According to the definition: Vv = Vs, R, = Rs, T, = T;
m, r,
'0= - = -
" m, Ps
Thus, relative humidity may also be defined as the ratio of actual partial pressure of water
vapour in moist air at a given dry bulb temperature to the saturation pressure of water
vapour or partial pressure of water vapour in saturated air at the same temperature.
WKT: ~= =0 [1-PS/P~
o -r,
1- Pb
p, = Density of water vapour in kg/nr' corresponding to its partial pressure and dry bulb
temperature td.
Pa = !?ensity of dry air in kg/nr' of dry air.
W.K.T: m, = m, pv - (1) & m, = m, Pa - (2)
mv Vv pv
Dividing one by the other we get: ma v, Pa
va = v; :
mv pv
&WKT:W= OR p, = Wp, ------- (3)
ma Pa
70
Also: Pa v, = m, R, td v, = Pa1 & m, = 1 kg.
*_1_ _ 0 _ Pa
WegetPa -Ratd. Rp;> R
~ a~
W Pa W[Pb - Pyl
In (3) py =
Ra~ Ra~
Where: P, = Pressure in kN/m2, R, = 0.287 kJ/kgOk & td in ok.
Problems
1. The readings from a sling psychometer are as follows: Dry bulb temperature = 30c, wet
bulb temperature = 20c. barometer reading = 740 mm ofHg.
Using steam tables, determine i. Dew point temperature. ii. Relative humidity. iii.
Specific humidity. iv. Degree of saturation v. Vapour density vi. Enthalpy of mixture per
kg of dry air. '
71
".
2. The humidity ratio of atmospheric air at 28c dry bulb temperature and 760 mm of Hg is
0.016 kg/kg of dry air. Determine i. Partial pressure of water vapour ii. Relative humidity
iii. Dew point temperature iv. Specific enthalpy v. Vapour density.
3. 5 gm of water vapour per kg of atmospheric air is removed and temperature of air after
removing water vapour becomes 25c DBT: Find the following i. Relative humidity ii.
Dew point temperature. Assume condition of atmospheric air is 35c and 60% RH and
pressure is 1.013 bar.
4. A glass beaker containing water at room temperature is cooled by adding ice - water. The
moisture from the room air begins to condense on the beaker when its temperature
reaches to 12.80c. If the room temperature and pressure are 21c and 1.01325 bar,
determine the partial pressure of water vapour in the room air and mass of water vapour
in gmlkg of dry air.
5. The pressure and temperature of mixture of dry air and water vapour are 736 mm of Hg
and 21c. The dew point temperature of the mixture is 15c. Find the following i. Partial
pressure of water vapour in the mixture ii. Relative humidity iii. Specific humidity iv.
Enthalpy of mixture per kg of air v. Specific volume of mixture per kg of air.
6. The DBT & WBT of atmospheric air are 35c & 23c respectively when the barometer
reads 75 cm of Hg. Determine i. Relative humidity ii. Humidity ratio iii. Dew point
temperature iv. Density v. Enthalpy of atmospheric air.
7. A room 7m*4m*4m is occupied by air water vapour mixture at 38c. The atmospheric
pressure is 1 bar and the relative humidity is 70%. Determine the humidity ratio, dew
point, mass of dry air and mass of water vapour. If the mixture pressure until the
temperature is 10, find the amount of water vapour condensed.
The outside air flows through a damper and mixes up with the recirculated air (which is obtained
from the condition space). The mixed air passes through a filter to remove dirt, dust and other
impurities. The air now passes through a preheat coil in order to prevent the possible freezing of
water and to control a evaporation .of water in the humidifier. After that, the air is made to pass
through a reheat coil to bring the air to the designed dry bulb temperature. Now, the conditioned
air is supplied to the condition space by a fan. From the condition space, a part of the used air is
72
exhausted to the atmosphere by the exhaust fans or ventilators. The remaining part of the used air
(known as recirculated air) is again conditioned as shows in the fig.
Conditioned
Conditioned oReclrculaled air -- space
I=leclrculaled air - space
Damper J I
-
Ouislde
air
Filler
Fig. Winter Air Conditioning System Fig. Summer Air Conditioning System
.. '-'
73