Introduction to

Psychrometrics
and
AirT Technique
Gerard Mojet

Development Manager AirT (global) Market Communication & Training

April 2013

Humidity And Water Vapour

Humidity is caused by Water Vapour in air

Water Vapour is water in gaseous phase, but below boiling

temperature

We also frequently use the word Moisture

The Composition Of Air

Air Pressure
101 kPa

~1% Noble gases Ar, etc.

1013 mbar
760 mm Hg

~21% O2 Oxygen
Air
~78% N2 Nitrogen

0-3% H2O Water Vapour

Earth Surface

Partial
Pressures

Vapour
Pressure

How To Quantify Humidity

Humidity Ratio (or Absolute Humidity)
The amount of (kilo)grams of water vapour per kilograms of (dry) air (g/kg)
Note: officially, Absolute Humidity is g/m

Relative Humidity
The ratio (in %) between the actual quantity of water vapour in the air and
the maximum quantity of water vapour that the air can contain at a certain
temperature

Humidity And Temperature

Warm air can contain more water vapour than cold air
Air at a certain temperature will have a corresponding maximum
content of water vapour
When too much water vapour is in the air (at a certain temperature),
the air is saturated and the excess moisture will condense out
This can happen when the temperature falls
Too much talking Lets make it more VISUAL..

HX Chart (IX Chart, Mollier Chart)

Psychrometric Chart (Carrier Chart)

In Continental Europe

Basics of the HX Chart

Humidity Ratio g/kg
2

10

11

12

13

55

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

At 20C this is 14.6 g/kg

50

At 15C it is 10.6 g/kg

45

At 10C it is 7.6 g/kg

40

At 5C it is 5.4 g/kg

35

Temperature C

Remember I said:
Air at a certain
temperature will have
a corresponding
maximum content of
water vapour.....
Temperature
C

60

0 1

At 0C it is 3.8 g/kg

30

25

At -5C it is 2.5 g/kg

20

15

10

-5

-10

-15

-20

on
i
t
a
tur
a
S

e
lin

Humidity Ratio
g/kg

Basics of the HX Chart

Humidity Ratio g/kg
60

0 1

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

55

50

Maximum amount at 20c is

14.6 g/kg.

45

40

8.7 is 60% of 14.6

Temperature C

35

30

8.7 g/kg
at 20c.

RH
60%
RH
80%

25

10

-5

-10

-15

-20

8.7
____
X 100 = 60%
14.6

The Relative Humidity (RH) at

this point is 60%

20

15

Imagine there is 8.7 g/kg

moisture in the air at 20c.

60% RH

Maximum possible
at 20c: 14.6 g/kg

For all temperatures a 60%

value can be calculated,
resulting in a 60% RH line
The same can be done for
80%, and other percentages.

Basics of the HX Chart

Relative Humidity Cycle During 24 Hours

Time is in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)

(Former Greenwich Mean Time (GMT))

Relative Humidity Cycle During 24 Hours

Time is in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)

(Former Greenwich Mean Time (GMT))

Relative Humidity Cycle During 24 Hours

Day
Night

Relative Humidity in Winter Outside versus

Inside

Inside

Outside

Condensation Lets have a beer

Air layer
on glass
6C

Nice
Summer
condition

A cool beer of 6C

Dew point
temperature (tDP)

Beer
6C
Glass
6C

Vapour Pressure

Vapour Pressure
is more or less
proportional to
Moisture Content
No Vapour Pressure
in simple Munters
hx-chart

Dry and Wet Bulb Temperature

Dry Bulb
Thermometer
indicates
real
temperature

Wet Bulb
Thermometer
shows amount
of evaporation
from wick
Difference tDB tWB
indicates humidity

Air Velocity Min. 2,6 m/s

Wet Bulb Measurement

Fan

Assmann

Wet wick

Sling psychrometer

Wet wick inside

Enthalpy / Heat Content

The energy contained in air [kJ/kg]
Air is a mixture of dry air and water vapour
The enthalpy of humid air consists of
the specific heat of the dry air component (Sensible heat)
the evaporation heat of the water vapour component (Latent heat)
the specific heat of the water vapour component

Enthalpy is named h hence the name h-x chart

Start point (h=0) is 1 kg of completely dry air at 0C and 1 kg of liquid water at
0C.
Enthalpy is not an absolute value it is used to calculate enthalpy
differences.

Enthalpy
h
t3
t2

Specific heat of the dry air component

t1

h1 = 1,01 t

1,01 t3

1,01 t2

1,01 t1

x
h

Evaporation heat of the water vapour component

h2 = 2,502 x

2,502 x

x
h

Specific heat of the water vapour component

1,84 x t2 / 1000

1,84 x t1 / 1000
t3

1,84 x t3 / 1000
t2

h3 = 1,84 x t / 1000

t1

t=C x=g/kg

h=kJ/kg

Enthalpy
h = h 1 + h 2 + h3

h1 = Specific heat of the dry air component = 1,01 t

h2 = Evaporation heat of the water vapour component = 2,502 x
h3 = Specific heat of the water vapour component = 1,84 x t / 1000

h = 1,01 t + 2,502 x + (1,84 x t / 1000) [kJ/kg]

Example: calculate the enthalpy of an air condition 25C at 12 g/kg.
h = 1,01 25 + 2,502 12 + (1,84 12 25 /1000) = 55,83 kJ/kg
Simplified, quick formula (mental arithmetic): h = t + 2,5 x

t=C x=g/kg

h=kJ/kg

(25 + 2,5 12 = 25 + 30 = 55)

Draw a Complete Graph with h, x (and t)

h

t4

t3

t2
h

t1

h
t

How to Make a hx-chart

t value (temperature - C)

va
lue

(e
nt
ha
lpy

t4
t3

kJ

/kg

t2
t1

Pull down
le

Fixed

t1

hsc
a

x-scale

x value (humidity ratio - g/kg)

h-scale

tv

alu

)
C

x value (humidity ratio - g/kg)

t2

h value (enthalpy kJ/kg)

etur
a
r
pe
tem
e(

x-scale

t3

t4

t-scale

Enthalpy Lines

90

Enthalpy Energy Calculations

How much energy is
needed to cool 1200m air
from 25C and 50%RH to
7C and 100%?
Enthalpy at 25C / 50%RH
50,3 kJ/kg

Enthalpy difference
50,3-22,6= 27,7 kJ/kg

50
,3

kJ

/k
g

Enthalpy at 7C / 100%RH
22,6 kJ/kg

1200m/h air is 1440 kg

22
,6

kJ

/k
g

(Air density = 1,2 kg/m)

Answer:
27,7 x 1440 = 39.888 kJ

The Variables Of The Psychrometric Chart

tDB =
x
=

=
tDP =
p
=
tWB =
h (i) =

Dry bulb temperature, C

Moisture content, kg/kg dry air
Relative humidity, % RH
Dew point temperature, C
Vapour pressure, kPa (mm Hg)
Wet bulb temperature, C
Enthalpy, kJ/kg (kcal/kg)

Mixing Air
Mixing 50% of condition A with 50%
of condition B
Mix condition C = 22C, 50%
Mixing 75% of condition A and 25%
of condition B
Condition B
30C, 40% RH

50%
75%
50%
25%
Condition A
14C, 70% RH

Condition C
22C, 50% RH
Condition C
18C, 55% RH

The ratio of the mixing condition is

reflected on the length of the line.
Mixing point C is at 25% of the total
line length from point A and at 75%
of the total line length from point B.
Mix condition C = 18C, 55%

Now Lets Talk

AirT Technologies

Dehumidification

Lowering Humidity

Desiccant
dehumidification

Heating

Cooling
and Reheat

Heating

NO moisture removed!

Only Relative
Humidity is lowered
Heating

Cooling (and Reheat)

RH% is still 100%

Moisture removed!

Cooling
and Reheat

Condensation Dehumidifier
Operating Principle

Cooling (and Reheat)

Problems with
dew points
below 5-8C

Cooling
and Reheat

The cooling coil will freeze

Desiccant Dehumidification
Moisture removed!

But also
temperature is
increased

Removing Water Vapour From Air

Natural Laws of Physics
When water vapour is removed from the air, the air temperature will rise
due to release of Evaporation Heat in exchange of the removed vapour.

This is a Law of Physics!

Process air

Dry air
temperature
is higher

Without additional measures the Dry air temperature is

always higher than the Process air temperature.
Depending on the amount of water vapour removed, this
rise might be 20-25C (the unit running at full capacity).
In many simple applications this is not a problem, because the actual airflow is very low.
(For instance: Drying a car garage box requires less energy than a hair dryer)
When it is a problem, post-cooling is applied to neutralise this natural effect.
Sometimes the additional heat is welcome (for instance Spray Drying to make powders).
Following the same Law of Physics, adding water vapour to the air has a cooling effect. This is
used in Evaporative Cooling.

Adsorption Dehumidifier
2-Beds, Intermittent Type

Valve position 1
2.= Wet air, out
4.= Dry air, out

Process air
through
B-Bed

A.

Regeneration
of A-Bed

B.

Inge-95

Process air
through
A-Bed

A.

Valve position 2
2.= Wet air, out
4.= Dry air, out

B.

Regeneration
of B-Bed

Adsorption Dehumidifier
Rotating Multi Vertikal Bed Type - MVB

Process air

Wet air

Dry air

Turning
direction

Regeneration air

Inge-95

Sealings separating
Regeneration/Wet air
from Process/Dry air

Sorption Dehumidifier
Rotor Type - Munters Original Patent

Process air

Dry air

Inge-95

Wet air

Reactivation air

Sealings separating
Process/Dry air from Reactivation/Wet
air

Munters Rotor Principle

Humidity Ratio

Munters Principle
in hx-chart

Temperature tdb

Regeneration
Process

Regeneration
Heating

RH

Dehumidification
Process

J
yk
p
l
a
th
en

g
/k

Vapour pressure

Munters Principle
in hx-chart (MX5000)

Absorbent Dehumidifier
Liquid Type

Humid air

Dry air Wet air

Regeneration air

Cooling battery
Heating battery

Dehumidification
chamber

Regeneration
chamber

Inge-95

Condensation versus Desiccant Dehumidifier

Capacity Comparison
Condensation vs Sorption

Inge-95

Costs Comparison
Condensation vs Sorption

15 g/kg

5 g/kg

30%
40%
50%

40C
30C

100%
Lower operational
costs; Condensation

20C
t DB = 10C
tDP=+5 C

t WB

0C
-10C

Inge-95

Approximately equal
Prices and Capacities

Lower operational
costs; Sorption

Desiccant vs Cooling
D/H Capacities at 50% RH

4 times more
capacity at 10C !

Room temperature C

Munters Rotor Principle

Making Extra Dry Air With

Pre-Cooling

Stage 1 Condensing out

on cooling coil

Very dry air

coming out

Cold air, ju
st
above fre
ezing poin
t

Stage 2 Desiccant Rotor

dries the air even further to
extreme dryness

Warm, very moist air going in

Rotor Process Manipulation

The dehumidifying capacity of a standard dehumidifier (running on nominal airflow) can
generally be changed through the following parameters:
Reduced process air stream improved Dx, reduced total capacity (kg/h)
Increased process air stream reduced Dx, improved total capacity (kg/h)
Increased regeneration energy (Dt) improved Dx and improved total
capacity (kg/h)
Various other parameters will also change the dehumidifying capacity.
Separate sectors are able to:
increase the dehumidifying capacity (Dx)
achieve very low dew points (ultra dry air)
save regeneration energy by energy recovery
and/or heat transfer in the rotor

Example

Energy Purge - Internal Heat Recovery

Air Flow

Heat Balance

Cool rotor surface for optimal moisture removal

Hot air heats up the rotor surface
Purge air cools the rotor again.
The purge air is heated by the
rotor surface and mixed with the
regeneration air, resulting in an
energy saving.

Rotor Sector Variations

HoneyCombe Rotor Trivia

One square meter of media contains over 300000 passages
One cubic centimeter of media has an internal desiccant surface area
of 115 square meters. (or about the same surface area as half a
tennis court).

ZEOL
VOC Abatement

55

Munters Zeol
Cleaning air from toxic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
The same basic idea of a Munters rotor.
But now no desiccant but another material
that attracts substances like (toxic) solvents.
The wheel is regenerated at high temperatures
and the recovered solvents are burned in a special
oven.
Our main customer: Intel
Munters has won Intel's prestigious Supplier
Continuous Quality Improvement Award several
times.

Evaporative
Cooling

57

Evaporation Process Draws Energy From Its

Surroundings
An every day example: human sweat
Evaporation

Air flow
Sweat

Energy is drawn from the skin

and creates a cooling effect

Skin

Evaporation Process Draws Energy From Its

Surroundings
Evaporation of water droplets in the air

Evaporation
Air is cooled down

Air flow

Heat is drawn from the air

An energy neutral process !!!

Munters AirT Has Two Types Of Evaporative

Cooling
Direct Evaporative Cooling
Indirect Evaporative Cooling

Direct Evaporative Cooling

Munters CELdek

Warm air

Cold air

An increase of one gram of moisture content in a kilogram of air will drop the temperature 2,5C.

Psychrometric Chart
Direct Evaporative Cooling process
(Adiabatic Cooling)
Outside condition 30C and 50%
Data Centre temperature requirement
Cold aisle supply Tdb = 23C

22.8C possible

Efficiency 90%
Outside
Condition
30C/22
C

Indirect Evaporative Cooling

Munters Oasis Indirect Evaporative Cooler Principle
Water is sprayed over tubes and an
airflow over the outside of the tubes
evaporates the water droplets from
the tube surface.
This causes a cooling effect that
cools the air flowing inside the
tubes.
The two airflows are completely
separated, so no moisture is added
to the cooled air inside the tubes.
(Only one tube out of many shown)

Indirect Evaporative Cooling

Munters Oasis Indirect Evaporative Cooler in practice

Water sprays

Cooled air

Tube detail

Warm
air
Pump

Outside air
Sump

Psychrometric Chart
Indirect Evaporative Cooling process
Air of 35C to be cooled
Outside temperature Tdb = 18C, RH=60%
Resulting Twb=13,4C
WBDE 70%

EPX
coolin
g
19.9C possible
Outside
Condition
18C/13,4
C

We
tb
ulb

Twb=13,4

tem

pe
rat

ure

35

 Psychrometric Chart

Psychrometric Chart
The three modes:
Dry Mode
Wetted Mode
Supplementary Cooling Mode
i.e. wetted and
supplementary mechanical
cooling

Oasis Indirect
Evaporative Cooler
in wetted mode
and
supplementary
mechanical
cooling

Note: The shown values are valid only at

the specified conditions !!!

Oasis Indirect
Evaporative
Cooler
in wetted
mode

Oasis Indirect
Evaporative
Cooler
in dry mode

11

19

23

35