UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN MEKANIKAL

Program
Course
Code
Lecturer

:
:
:
:

Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical

Thermalfluids Lab
MEC 554
En. Mohammad Shamil Bin Jaffarullah

Lab Report
ANALYSIS OF AIR-CONDITIONING PROCESS
No.

Student Name

Student Number

MUHAMMAD SYAFIQ BIN AZIZOL

2014464844

NUR AFIQAH BIN NORAZMAN

2014684978

NUR EIRDYNA NASUHA BINTI MOHD NOR

2014807512

NORNIKMAN BIN MALEK

2014873368

MUHD ASHRAF BIN KAMARUDIN

2014864946

Experiment Date: 26/10/2015

(Tarikh)

Staff Signature :

Report Submitted : 02/10/2015

(Tarikh)

Staff Signature :

(T. Tangan)
(T. Tangan)

Signature

TABLE OF CONTENT
Content
Page
List Of Tables...................................................................................................................
List Of Figures ................................................................................................................
1.0 Title ............................................................................................................................
2.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................................
3.0 Objectives .................................................................................................................
4.0 Apparatus...................................................................................................................
5.0 Procedure...................................................................................................................
6.0 Results.......................................................................................................................
7.0 Discussions & Conclusions ....................................................................................
8.0 References ................................................................................................................
9.0 Appendices ...............................................................................................................

List of Tables :
No.

List of Figures:

Title of Tables

Page

No.

Title of Figures

Page

1.0 TITLE
ANALYSIS OF AIR-CONDITIONING PROCESS

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Air conditioning deals with the thermodynamic properties of moist air and these
properties is used to analyse the conditions and the processes involving the moist air.
Basically, the air conditioning system cooled the air when the weather is hot. It used for

thermal comfort and indoor air quality. This laboratory unit illustrates the application of
the principles of thermodynamics in the field of air conditioning.
The most basic of processes involved in an air-conditioning system are in the following:
a)

Simple heating and cooling process

The air is heated by circulating through the duct or pipe contains the
electric resistance wires or hot gases tubing. For cooling process, the air goes
through the duct that contain tubing of refrigerant fluid to cold it down. In this
process, the moisture remain constant since no moisture is added or removed
from the air.

b)

Heating with humidification

This process is to heat the space and to increase the moisture contain in
the space or room. The air goes through the heating process and after that the
air go through a humidifying section to increase the moisture. In that section, the
hot water vapor is sprayed and instead of using cold water, the hot water vapor
use to maintain the temperature from dropping.

c)

Cooling with dehumidification

The process where the air is cooled sensibly and at the same time, the
moisture is reduced or removed from the air. The air is cooled down below the
dew point temperature to remove the moisture in the air.

The specific humidity and percentage saturation can be obtained in the

psychometric chart which as shown in FIGURE 3.1 below:

Figure 2.1 Psychrometric chart

AC575 Computer Linked Air Conditioning Unit

Figure 2.2 Schematic Diagram of the Air conditioning Process

The basic configuration of the air conditioner unit is shown in Figure1. Air is
drawn into a variable speed centrifugal fan and discharge into a glass fiber duct. Steam
can be added at the fan discharge to provide humidification. The air that can be
preheated by two finned electric heating coils flows through the evaporator of the
refrigeration unit and finally passes over two finned electric heating coils for reheating.
Water condensate can be collected and measured. Air conditions at different stages are
determined by wet and dry thermocouples and the mass flow rate is measured by a
sharp edged orifice and differential pressure transducer.
The steam is provided by an atmospheric boiler with three heating elements that
can be switched to create various rates of steam production. The water level is
controlled by a float switch and solenoid valve and observed through a sight glass. The
refrigerator unit consists essentially of a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a
thermal expansion valve. A propeller fan blows air across the condenser coil. The air is
cooled and dehumidified at the evaporator, where the refrigerant R-134a is allowed to
evaporate creating cooling effect. An amount of heat equivalent to the heat absorbed

by the evaporator and the work supplied to the compressor is rejected at the condenser
to the atmosphere.
High pressure liquid refrigerant flows from the condenser to the evaporator
through the thermal expansion valve. The low pressure refrigerant then evaporates in
the evaporator providing the required cooling effect. The vapors refrigerant thus
generated is received by the compressor where the vapors pressure is raised and
superheated vapors is delivered to the condenser. The vapors are air cooled at the
condenser and liquefied for the beginning of the next cycle. The saturation temperature
of the refrigerant in the evaporator is below the dew point of the air when air is forced to
flow across the evaporator coil; heat is transferred from the air to the refrigerant which
then evaporates. This causes the air temperature and the humidity to be reduced.
The state of the atmospheric air at a specified pressure is completely specified
by two independent intensive properties. The rest of the properties can be calculated
easily by other relations. The sizing of a typical air-conditioning system involves
numerous such calculations, which may eventually get on the nerves of even the most
patient engineers. Therefore, there is clear motivation to computerize calculations or to
do these calculations once and to present the data in the form of easily readable charts.
Such charts are called psychrometric charts and they are used extensively in airconditioning applications. The basic features of the psychrometric chart are illustrated
as figure below.

Figure 2.3 Schematic for psychometric chart

The psychrometric chart also serves as a valuable aid in visualizing the airconditioning processes. An ordinary heating or cooling process for example, appears as
a horizontal line on this chart if no humidification or dehumidification is involved that is,
= constant. Any deviation from a horizontal line indicates that moisture is added or
removed from the air during the process.
Various air-conditioning processes are illustrated on the psychometric chart below:

Figure 2.4 Various air-conditioning Processes

Notice that simple heating and cooling processes appear as horizontal lines on
this chart since the moisture content of the air remains constant, = constant during
these processes. Air is commonly heated and humidified in winter and cooled and
dehumidified in summer. Notice how these processes appear on the psychometric
chart.
Most air-conditioning process can be modeled as steady-flow processes, and
m

thus the mass balance relation

Mass balance for dry air:

Mass balance for water:

in =

can be expressed for dry and water as

out

out

m
out

(kg/s)

or

m
out

Disregarding the kinetic and potential energy changes, the steady-flow energy

balance relation

in +

in =

in

out

can be expressed in this case as:

h= Q

out

out

m
out

The work term usually consists of the fan work input, which is small relative to the
other term in the energy balance relation.

3.0 OBJECTIVES

1. To examine and study the changes in air properties as it is treated in a basic air
conditioning unit.
2. To study the uses of psychrometric chart based on the data printed and data
calculated.

4.0 APPARATUS

1. Computer Linked Air Conditioning Laboratory Unit ( P.A. Hilton)

Cooling
Area

Fan

Control
panel

Water
Container

2. Computerized Data Display System

Computer
Display
Printer

CPU

3. Control Panel

4. Schematic Diagram

5.0 PROCEDURE

Started the unit by having the suction fan running and the screen displayed the
master Menu. Wait till the programed 1 showed the process data displayed on a
schematic layout of the system. Programed 2 displays the properties of the treated on
the psychometric chart. This experiment was divided into 4 stages and the procedure is
done one by one;
Stages 1 - No Process
Where in these stages it was act as the control data. All the data and
psychometric chart before the experiment had been print out and used as the reference
and comparison data. In stages 1, as the Computer Linked Air Conditioning Laboratory
Unit was activated the initial data were taken by printing the data and psychometric
chart from the computer. Then, the data were written in the result of data table and print
out (schematic diagram no.7 and psychometric chart no.8). The difference between the
temperatures in and out was calculated and recorded.

Stages 2-Sensible Heating

In stages 2, here there were two kind of data needed, first the one that get from
activated of pre-heated at 1kW and second from both of activation of pre-heater which
at 0.5kW and the re-heater. For the first data as the air flow inside, the pre-heater was
activated by clicking the first switch on. Then it was let to activate for next 5 minutes.
After that the data was print out (schematic diagram no.32 and psychometric chart
no.33). The difference between the temperatures in and out was calculated and
recorded. When it finished, preheater was activated with preheated leave activated,
hence the total power need to preheat

and re-heated were 1.5kW and then leave for

another 5 minutes. Then the data were printed (schematic diagram no.46 and
psychometric chart no.47).The difference between the temperature in and out were
calculate and recorded.

Stages 3 -Steam Humidification.

In stage 3, the entire water heater was activated in order to accelerate the time
taken to boil the water inside the boiler to producing the steam. The speed of the fan
had been reduced to 25 rpm in order to help to detect the steam within vicinity. After the
steam were detected, two switch of 2kW of heater

were deactivated and only one

3kW heater was leave activated. Then the speed of fan rise to 35 rpm and leave for 5
minutes before the data were taken. As the 5 minutes passed, the data were printed out
(schematic diagram no.56 and psychometric chart no.57). The amount of steam, the
change of humidity and corresponding rise of temperature had been calculated and
recorded in the table.
Stages 4 - Cooling and Dehumidification.
In stage 4, the compressor of the refrigeration was activated allowed the
temperature to cool down at the range of 18C-20C and stabilized. After 5 minutes the
data was taken and print out (schematic diagram no.67and psychometric chart no.68).
As the temperature started to stabilized, the time taken for the system collecting the
100ml of water were taken from the first drop until the last drop of 100ml. Then, the rate
of condensation process was calculated and recorded in the table.

6.0 RESULTS

Table 6.1 Result of Experiment

No
Process

Sensible Heating
1 Kw | 1.5kw

Steam
Humidification

Cooling And Dehumidification

Stable
After 5
Temperature
minutes

T1 ( TA d )

27.0

27.6

27.5

27.0

27.0

29.3

T2 ( TA w )

22.9

23.3

23.0

23.2

23.0

23.7

T3 ( TB d )

27.4

44.0

48.1

40.0

40.0

29.0

T4 ( TB w )

23.7

30.4

31.9

40.6

40.6

24.2

T5 ( TC d )

24.6

38.5

46.2

39.4

39.4

10.4

T6 ( TC w )

22.4

27.0

29.1

39.1

39.1

10.2

T7 ( TD d )

25.0

35.6

50.3

39.0

39.0

10.9

T8 ( TD w )

22.8

26.3

30.2

39.6

39.6

11.0

T9 ( T 1 )

30.5

2.7

T10 ( T 2 )

33.5

76.3

T11 ( T 3 )

28.0

40.8

T12 ( T 4 )

28.6

0.4

Qp

1037.0

Qr

0.0

551.4

Qb

2773.3

Pevap ( P 1 )

626.5

144.4

Pcond ( P 3 )

696.4

995.9

ma

86.8

200.2

200.2

mr

Time

50min

Drain water (ml)

100 ml

Reading

Experiment

102
6.7

207.
9

40.5

Sensible heating
The temperature rise of the air at the exit:
1kW pre-heater
Tdry = 8.0C
Twet= 3.0C

1.5kW pre-heater
Tdry== 22.8C
Twet== 7.2C

Steam Humidification:

3
Amount of steam introduced =1.114x 10

Change in relative humidity,= 7.0%

Corresponding rise of temperature:

kg/s

Tdry = 12.0 C
Twet= 16.4 C
Cooling And Dehumidification:

Heat rate =1.978x10-4 kg/s

Amount of moisture removed from the air =2.034kJ/s

Rate of condensation from the beginning of the coolong process until the end :
=1.698x10-3kg/s

Sample calculation:
a) Sensible heating
The temperature rise of the air at the exit:
For 1kW
Tdry= T7 T1
= 35.6 27.6
= 8.0C

Twet= T8 T2
= 26.3 23.3
=

3.0C

For 1.5kW
Tdry= T7 T1
= 50.3 27.5
= 22.8C

Twet= T8 T2
= 30.2 23.0
=

7.2C

b) Steam humidification
i.

Amount of steam introduced:

ms =

q
he

where
ms = mass of steam (kg/s)
q = calculated heat transfer (kW)
he = evaporation energy of the steam (kJ/kg)
3
= 2693.10
3

=1.114x 10

kg/s

ii.

Change in relative humidity

Tdry,in = 27.0 C
Twet,in = 23.2 C
From the psychrometric chart,
in = 91%
Tdry,out = 39.0 C
Twet,out = 39.6 C
From the psychrometric chart,
out =84 %
= out - in = 7.0%

iii.

Rise of temperature :
Tdry = Tdry,out - Tdry,in
= 39.0-27.0
=12.0 C
Twet = Twet,out - Twet,in
= 39.6-23.2
=16.4 C

c) Cooling and Dehumidification

For the first 5 minutes
ma = 200.2 g/s @ 0.2002 kg/s
In
Tdry@T1 = 27.0C
Twet@T2 = 23.2C

Out
Tdry@T7 = 39.0C
Twet @ T8 = 39.6C

i) Temperature decrease of the air at the exit,

Tdry =39.0 -27.0= 12.0C
Twet = 39.6-23.2= 16.4C

From psychrometric chart,

In
Percentage saturation,RH(1) =
70%
Moisture Content,1 = 18.5 x 103 kgv/kga
Enthalphy,h1 = 113.19kJ/kg

Out
Percentage saturation,(RH)2 =
52%
Moisture Content,1 = 23.3 x 103 kgv/kga
Enthalphy,h2 = 163.35 kJ/kg

To find Enthalpy:
x= h1 @ T7=27.0C from table A-4, therefore:
x = h1 (kJ/kG)
104.83
x
125.74

Temperature(C)
25
27
30

(x 104.83)/( 125.74 -104.83 ) = (27-25)/(30-25)

x = 113.19kJ/kg
x= h2 @ T7=39.0C from table A-4, therefore:
x= h2 (kJ/kG)
146.64
x
167.53

Temperature(C)
35
39
40

(x 146.64)/( 167.53-146.64) = (39-35)/(40-35)

x = 163.35kJ/kg

It is acknowledged that,
Dry air mass balance: ma1 = ma2 = ma
Water mass balance: ma11 = ma22 + mw
Energy balance : m ihi = Qout + mehe
Qout = ma ( h1 h2 ) mw hw
1.0 Amount of moisture,
mw = ma(2- 1)
= 0.0412kg/s(23.3 x 10-3 kgv/kga 18.5 x 10-3 kgv/kga)
= 1.978x10-4 kg/s

2.0 Amount of heat rate

x= hf @ T7=39.0C from table A-4, therefore:
hw = hf (kJ/kG)
146.64
Hw
167.53

Temperature(C)
35
39
40

(hw 146.64)/( 167.53-146.64) = (39-35)/(40-35)

hw = 163.35kJ/kg

Q out = ma (h2 h1) - mwhw

= 0.0412kg/s (163.35-113.19) (1.978x10-4 kg/s)( 163.35kJ/kg)
=2.034kJ/s

Data @ 16.16 minutes to achieve 100ml

ma = 217.7 g/s @ 0.2177 kg/s
In
Tdry@T1 = 29.3 C
Twet@T2 = 23.7 C

Out
Tdry@T7 = 10.9C
Twet @ T8 = 11.0C

From psychrometric chart,

In
Percentage
saturation,RH(1) = 65%

Out
Percentage saturation,
(RH)2 = 99%

Moisture Content,1 =
17.8 x 10-3 kgv/kga

Moisture Content,2 =
10.0x 10-3 kgv/kga

Enthalphy,h1 =
122.81kJ/kg

Enthalphy,h2 =
45.778kJ/kg

To find Enthalpy:
x= h1 @ T7=29.3 C
from table A-4,
therefore x = h1
(kJ/kG)
104.83
x
125.74

Temperature(C)
25
29.3
30

(x 104.83)/( 125.74 -104.83 ) = (29.3-25)/(30-25)

x = 122.81kJ/kg
x= h2 @ T7=10.9C
from table A-4,
therefore x= h2
(kJ/kG)
42.002
x
62.982

Temperature(C)
10
10.9
15

(x 42.002)/( 62.982-42.002) = (10.9-10)/(15-10)

x = 45.778kJ/kg

1.0 Amount of moisture removed,

mw = ma(1- 2)
= 0.2177kg/s (17.8 x 10-3 kgv/kga- 10.0x 10-3 kgv/kga)
= 1.698x10-3kg/s
2.0 Amount of heat rate removed,
hw= h2 @ T7=10.9C from table A-4, therefore:
x= h2 (kJ/kG)
Temperature(C)
42.002
10
Hw
10.9
62.982
15
(x 42.002)/( 62.982-42.002) = (10.9-10)/(15-10)
hw = 45.778kJ/kg

Q out = ma (h1 h2) - mwhw

= 0.2177kg/s (122.81kJ/kg 45.778kJ/kg) - (1.698x10-3kg/s) (45.778kJ/kg)
= 16.692kJ/s

7.0 DISCUSSIONS
&
CONCLUSIONS

8.0 REFERENCES

1. http://www.newlearn.info/packages/clear/thermal/buildings/active_systems/ac/pro
cess.html
2. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/air_conditioning.aspx#3
3. Schmid, S.R., & Kalpakjian, S. (2010). Engineering metrology and
instrumentation. In Hamidon Musa (Eds.), Manufacturing engineering and
technology (pp. 998 1012). Jurang, Singapore: Pearson Education, Inc.
4. Yunus A. Cengel & Cimbala, J.M. (2010). Fluid mechanics: fundamentals and
applications. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
5. Yunus A. Cengel & Cimbala, J.M. (2010). Thermodynamics: an engineering
approach. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

9.0 APPENDICIES