Chapter 3

PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
BFB 40603 BUILDING SERVICES II
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Introduction to Psychrometry

The Atmosphere
 Psychrometry is the study of atmospheric
air and its associated water vapour.
 Air comprises a mixture of gases of which
nitrogen makes up 78%, oxygen 21% and
carbon dioxide and the inert gases (such
as argon, neon, krypton, helium etc.)
These are known as the dry gases of the
atmosphere.
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Introduction to Psychrometry

 In the air mixture, the dry gases and

associated water vapour behave
according to ‘Dalton’s law of Partial
Pressures’.
 That is they behave independently of one
another and the pressure each exerts
combine to produce an overall
‘atmospheric pressure’.
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Introduction to Psychrometry

Water Vapour
 In addition to these dry gases, the air also contains varying amounts of water vapour. At
normal temperatures and pressures, water is able to exist in both a liquid and a gaseous
(or vapour) form, but it cannot be treated in the same way as the other gases of the
atmosphere because its quantity, and hence proportion are continually varying.
 Water vapour is said to be associated with dry air and the more vapour associated with
the dry gases, the more humid the air.
 At sea level, atmospheric pressure is normally within the range 95 to 105 Pa, but this
depends upon weather conditions.
 The agreed international standard atmosphere has a pressure of 101.325 kPa (1013.25
mbar) and this reduces at the rate 0.013 kPa per metre of height above sea level and
increases at the same rate below sea level.
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Introduction to Psychrometry

Water Vapour
 The water vapour is completely
independent of the dry atmospheric
gases, and its behaviour is not affected
by their presence of absence, but for any
given temperature there is a maximum
amount of vapour that can be absorbed
or associated with a given volume of air.
In addition, although the actual quantity
of water is quite small, it can have a
dramatic effect on our perception of
comfort.
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Psychrometric Chart

 The principles of psychrometry apply to any physical system

consisting of gas-vapor mixtures.
 The most common system of interest, however, are mixtures of
water vapor and air because of its application in heating,
ventilating, and air-conditioning and meteorology.
 A psychrometric chart is a graph of the physical properties of moist
air at a constant pressure or often equated to an elevation relative
to sea-level. The chart graphically expresses how various properties
relate to each other, and is thus a graphical 'equation of state'.
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Function of psychrometric chart:

 Air conditioners are used to condition air. AC will be used to control properties of air.
 Psychrometry and psychrometric chart is vital for designing and sizing air conditioners.
 There are six dimensions of parameters involved in defining an air condition. These parameters,
are inter-related between each other. Additionally, there are numerous data points from
experiments, that need to be recorded. Putting these data into a set of is possible. However, the
drawback is, air conditioner designers and contractors have to flip-and-flip-back the pages to
get necessary data.
 A chart, named known as the psychrometric chart is formed, incorporating all six parameters.
Data referencing made easy. Psychrometric chart is defined as the representation of air
properties, in graphical form.
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Psychrometric chart:

 Psychrometric chart can either be represented in S.I. or metric units.

 A psychrometric chart contains a lot of information packed in an odd-shaped graph.
The psychrometric chart highlights seven properties of air:
1. Dry Bulb Temperature (DBT)
2. Wet Bulb Temperature (WBT)
3. Saturation Temperature
4. Relative Humidity
5. Humidity Ratio
6. Volume
7. Enthalpy
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Psychrometric chart:
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Psychrometric Chart - Air Characteristics

(i) Humidity
 Humidity is the amount of water vapor in an air sample.

 There are three different ways to measure humidity: absolute humidity, relative
humidity, and specific humidity.
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Psychrometric Chart - Air Characteristics

(ii) Absolute Humidity

 Absolute humidity refers to the mass of water in a particular volume of ai, regardless of
temperature
 Absolute humidity is expressed as the number of kilograms of water vapor per cubic
meter of air. Imagine a cube of air that is one meter wide, one meter high, and one
meter deep.
 Absolute humidity is the mass of the water vapour 𝑚𝐻2 𝑂 , divided by the volume of the air
and water vapor mixture 𝑉𝑛𝑒𝑡 which can be expressed as:
𝑚𝐻2 𝑂
𝐴𝐻 = (g/𝑚3 )
𝑉𝑛𝑒𝑡

 The maximum absolute humidity of warm air at 30°C is approximately 30g of water
vapor – 30 g/m3. The maximum absolute humidity of cold air at 0°C is approximately 5g
of water vapor - 5 g/m3.
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Psychrometric Chart - Air Characteristics

(iii) Relative Humidity

 Relative humidity is defined as the ratio of the
partial pressure of water vapor in a gaseous
mixture of air and water to the saturated vapor
pressure of water at a given temperature.
 That is, a ratio of how much energy has been used
to free water from liquid to vapor form to how
much energy is left.
 Relative humidity is expressed as a percentage. It is
the ratio of the vapour pressure of an air sample
to the saturated vapour pressure at the same
temperature.
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Psychrometric Chart - Air Characteristics

 Percentage saturation or relative humidity are frequently used in specifications as a

requirement of air humidity conditions
 Relative humidity is the most frequently encountered measurement of humidity because
it is regularly used in weather forecasts. It’s an important part of weather reports
because it indicates the likelihood of precipitation, dew, or fog.
 Relative humidity is cited in weather forecasts as it affects how we “feel” temperature.
 Higher relative humidity also makes it feel hotter outside in the summer because it
reduces the effectiveness of sweating to cool the body by preventing the evaporation
of perspiration from the skin.
 Human body temperature is dependent on the air as it absorbs and removes moisture
from our skin to cool us down. If the relative humidity is high, the amount of water
evaporating from our skin is limited so we feel warm and stifled.
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Psychrometric Chart - Air Characteristics

(iv) Specific Humidity

 Specific Humidity is the ratio of water vapor to air (dry air plus water vapor) in a
particular volume of air. It is sometimes referred to as the humidity ratio.
 Specific Humidity ratio is expressed as a ratio of kilograms of water vapor, mw, per
kilogram of air, ma .
𝑚𝑣
𝑆𝐻 =
𝑚𝑎
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Psychrometric Chart –
Thermal Characteristics
(i) Dry bulb
 Temperature is that of an air sample, as determined by an ordinary thermometer,
the thermometer's bulb being dry.
 Normal air temperature, can be measured by a normal mercury-in-glass
thermometer.
 This is known as the Dry-bulb temperature (DBT) because the bulb of the
thermometer is kept dry
 Vapour pressure (ps) is the actual pressure of vapour existing at any particular
location and time and temperature and is a property of the moisture content of the
air
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Psychrometric Chart –
Thermal Characteristics
(ii) Wet bulb
 The wet-bulb temperature (WBT), as the name implies, is the air temperature
measured by a thermometer with a bulb covered with a muslin cloth sleeve and
kept moist with distilled or clean water.
 It was devised as a means of assessing the humidity of the air, but as the actual
reading is influenced by air movement, there are two variations of this temperature.
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Psychrometric Chart –
Thermal Characteristics
(iii) Dew point
 Dew Point Temperature (DPT) is that at which a moist air sample at the same
pressure would reach water vapor saturation.
 At this saturation point, water vapor would begin to condense into liquid water fog
or (if below freezing) solid hoarfrost, as heat is removed.
 The dew point temperature is measured easily and provides useful information, but
is normally not considered an independent property. It duplicates information
available via other humidity properties and the saturation curve.
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Psychrometric Chart –
Thermal Characteristics

 The dew-point temperature is a very important property

in air-conditioning as it determines if water will be
condensed from air when it is cooled. This occurs when a
sample of air is cooled to the point where its vapour
pressure reaches its saturated vapour pressure.
 For example, suppose air is being cooled at constant
vapour pressure (i.e. constant moisture content).
Eventually, the temperature of the air will reach a point
where the air is fully saturated (on our psychrometric
chart – the ‘saturation line) and if the temperature drops
lower than this point, water vapour will begin to
condense. This point in known as the dew-point
temperature (DPT)
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Psychrometric Chart –
Thermal Characteristics
(iv) Specific Enthalpy
 Symbolized by h, also called heat content per unit mass, is the sum of the internal energy
of a thermodynamic system. These values correspond to the saturated state and are to
be read parallel to wet bulb temperature values.

(v) Specific Volume

 Also called Inverse Density. Volume per unit mass
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Psychrometric Chart

 The horizontal X-axis denotes dry bulb temperature

(DBT) scale. DBT is the air temperature measured in
°C or °F and determined by an ordinary glass
thermometer. It is called "dry-bulb" since the
sensing tip of the thermometer is dry. Since this
temperature is so commonly used, it can be
assumed that temperatures are dry-bulb
temperatures unless otherwise designated.
 Vertical lines indicate constant dry bulb
temperature.
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Psychrometric Chart

 Y-axis indicates humidity ratio or absolute humidity,

which is the weight of the water, contained in the
air per unit of dry air (g/Kg).
 Curved boundary represents saturated air line or
dew point temperature line. Saturation line is a
temperature condition at which water will begin
to condense out of moist air.
 Given air at a certain dry bulb temperature and
relative humidity, if the temperature is allowed to
decrease, the air is no longer able to hold as
much moisture.
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Psychrometric Chart

 Relative humidity (RH) : a ratio between the actual

moisture content of the air compared with the moisture
content of the air required for saturation at the same
temperature.
 The curved lines running from the bottom left and
sweeping up through to the top right of the chart
represent lines of constant relative humidity. The line for
100 percent relative humidity, or saturation, is the upper,
left boundary of the chart.
 Relative humidity is a relative measure, because the
moisture-holding capacity of air increases as air is
warmed.
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Psychrometric Chart

 Wet-bulb temperature (WBT) is determined when air is

circulated past a wetted sensor tip. It represents the
temperature at which water evaporates and brings the air to
saturation.
 This is different from dew point temperature where a decrease
in temperature, or heat loss, decreases the moisture holding
capacity of the air, and hence, water condenses. The 'status
point' is determined at the intersection of the vertical DBT line
and the sloping WBT line of the psychrometric chart.
 When the air is fully saturated, the DBT and WBT readings are
identical and there is no evaporation. Determination of wet-
bulb temperature on this psychrometric chart follows lines of
constant enthalpy but values are read off the upper, curved,
saturation temperature boundary. Wet-bulb temperature
represents how much moisture the air can evaporate.
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Psychrometric Chart

 Specific volume indicates the space occupied by air. It is the

reciprocal of density and is expressed as a volume per unit
weight in ft3 / lb or m3 /kg (density is weight per unit volume).
 Warm air is less dense than cool air, which causes warmed air
to rise. This phenomenon is known as thermal buoyancy. By
similar reasoning, warmer air has greater specific volume and is
hence lighter than cool air.
 On the psychrometric chart, lines of constant specific volume
are almost vertical lines with scale values written below the dry-
bulb temperature scale and above the upper boundary's
saturation temperature scale. Greater specific volume is
associated with warmer temperatures (dry-bulb). Specific
volume is indicated by another set of slightly more sloping lines
on the psychrometric chart.
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Psychrometric Chart

 Enthalpy (E) is the heat energy content of moist air. It is

expressed in Btu per pound of dry air (or kJ/Kg) and represents
the heat energy due to temperature and moisture in the air.
 Lines of constant enthalpy run diagonally downward from left
to right across the chart. Lines of constant enthalpy and
constant wet-bulb are the same on this chart but values are
read off separate scales. More accurate psychrometric charts
use slightly different lines for wetbulb temperature and
enthalpy.
 For air condition point (P) the enthalpy is read at point A. The
sensible heat component can be read at point B,
corresponding to the enthalpy of dry air at the same
temperature. The remainder, i.e. A - B, is the latent heat
content.
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Psychometrics Processes

 Psychrometric processes bring about changes in air-

water vapor properties.
 The movement of the state point on the psychrometric
chart represents changes. Common processes include:
• Sensible Heating and Cooling
• Cooling and Dehumidification
• Heating and Humidification
• Evaporative Cooling
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Psychometrics Processes

temperatures greater
than 30° C will be
considered too hot,
and less than 20°C
will be considered
too cold.
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Psychometrics Processes
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Psychometrics Processes - Heating or cooling

 The addition or removal of heat, without any change in

the moisture content (AH), resulting in the change in DBT.
 The status point will move horizontally to the left (cooling)
or to the right (heating). Note that while the AH
(represented on the y axis) does not change, the
change in temperature means the relative humidity (RH)
changes.
 The relative humidity increases if the temperature lowers
and vice versa.
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Psychometrics Processes –
Dehumidification by cooling

 If, as a result of cooling, the status point moving towards

the left reaches the saturation line, some condensation
will start.
 The DBT corresponding to this point is referred to as the
dew-point temperature of the original atmosphere. If
there is further cooling, the status point will move along
the saturation line and condensation will occur. The
reduction in the vertical ordinate (on the AH scale)
represents the amount of moisture precipitated, i.e.,
condensed out.
 This process will reduce the absolute humidity, but will
always end with 100% RH.
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Psychometrics Processes –
Dehumidification by cooling

 State 1 is warmer and humid.

 Cooling and dehumidification shall result in state 2.
 The total heat absorbed is shown broken into a
sensible and latent heat portion.
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Psychometrics Processes –
Adiabatic humidification (evaporative cooling)

 If moisture is evaporated into an air volume without any

heat input or removal (this is the meaning of the term
'adiabatic'), the latent heat of evaporation is taken from
the atmosphere.
 The sensible heat content - thus the DBT - is reduced, but
the latent heat content is increased. The status point
moves up and to the left, along a WBT line. This is the
process involved in evaporative cooling.
 Note that this process increases the relative humidity. It
increases only until it hits the saturation line, at which it becomes
100%. Beyond it there is no decrease in sensible temperature.
This is the reason why during hot and humid months,
evaporative cooling is ineffective and uncomfortable.
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Psychometrics Processes –
Adiabatic dehumidification (by absorbents):

 If the air is passed through a chemical absorbent material

(e.g., silica gel), some of the moisture is removed and the
latent heat of evaporation is released. There will be an
increase in sensible heat content, in the system (i.e., if the
process is adiabatic), the state point will move down and
towards the right along an enthalpy line.
 This process, in effect is the reverse of the previous one.
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)

35
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

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Psychrometer

 A psychrometer is a device that includes

both a dry-bulb and a wet-bulb
thermometer.
 A sling psychrometer requires manual
operation to create the airflow over the
bulbs, but a powered psychrometer includes
a fan for this function.
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EXERCISE

Determine all the parameters at the temperatures of 22⁰C

dry bulb temperature and 15 ⁰C wet bulb temperature
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GROUP ASSIGNMENT

 One of the major applications of the Psychrometric

Chart is in air conditioning, and we find that most
humans feel comfortable when the temperature is
between 22°C and 27°C, and the relative humidity
φ between 40% and 60%. This defines the "comfort
zone" which is portrayed on the Psychrometric
Chart.
 If the outside air in Malaysia is at 35°C and the
relative humidity is 70% to be conditioned by
cooling so as to bring the air to within the "comfort
zone“. Using the Psychrometric Chart neatly plot the
required air conditioning process and estimate
(a) the amount of moisture removed
(b) the heat removed
(c) the amount of heat
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GROUP ASSIGNMENT

 2 students in a group
 Submit your assignment on 13th NOV 2018
 No cover required, just write your name & matric no on
the top of paper
 Can use recycle paper 