Psychrometry

Prof Xiao, F. Linda

Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
Office: ZS851; Tel: 2766 4194
Email: linda.xiao@polyu.edu.hk
Moist air (working fluid in air conditioning system)
Atmospheric air is a mixture of dry air and water
vapour/steam.

What is psychrometry?
The science of studying the thermodynamic
properties of moist air, and

apply the properties to analyze air conditioning

processes.
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Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure

 Pmixture = P1 + P2 + …

 Pressure exerted by each constituent of a gas mixture

is independent of the presence of the others;

 The General Gas Law can be applied to the dry air and
water vapour separately.

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Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure

t = 25.5 oC t = 25.5 oC t = 25.5 oC

ma = 1 kg ma = 0 kg ma = 1 kg
ms = 0 kg ms = 0.0102 kg ms = 0.0102 kg
Pa = 99.692 kPa Pa = 0 Pa = 99.692 kPa
Ps = 0 Ps = 1.633 kPa Ps = 1.633 kPa
P = 99.692 kPa P = 1.633 kPa Pat = 101.325 kPa
Physics Laws Applicable to Moist Air
 Conservation of mass
mm = ma + mw

 Dalton’s Law
Pm = Pat = Pa + Pw

 Gibbs-Dalton Law
mm um = ma ua + mw uw
mm hm = ma ha + mw hw
mm sm = ma sa + mw sw 5
Moist air property - w
Humidity Ratio (w), or Moisture Content

It is defined as the ratio of the mass of water

vapour to the mass of dry air contained in the
moist air mixture,

w = mw / ma , kg per kg dry air

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According to General Gas Law
the dry air : Pa V = ma Ra T ... (i)

the water vapour : Pw V = mw Rw T ... (ii)

Equation (i) / Equation (ii)

Pa ma R a mw R a Pw 287.1 Pw
= ⇒ = ⋅ ⇒ w = ⋅
Pw mwR w ma R w Pa 461.5 Pat − Pw

Pw
∴ humidity ratio, w = 0.622
Pat − Pw
Saturated Air

Air that contains the maximum amount of water

vapour that is possible at the given temperature
and pressure, i.e. air in which the relative
humidity is 100%.

A useful tool to study moist air: Steam Table

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Moist air property - RH
Relative humidity (φ)
It is the ratio of the mole fraction of the water vapour
(Xw) in a given moist air sample to the mole fraction
of water vapour (Xws) in saturated air at the same
temperature and pressure,

Xw
φ =
X ws
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 Mole fraction of nw
= Xw =
water vapour na + nw

According to General Gas Law

Pw V = m w R w T = (n w M w ) R w T = n w R o T
Pw V
⇒ nw =
R oT

Similarly,
Pa V = m a R a T = (n a M a ) R a T = n a R o T

Pa V
⇒ na =
R oT
 nw Pw Pw
∴ Xw = = =
na + nw Pa + Pw Pat

Pws
X ws =
Pat

Hence, relative humidity

Xw Pw / Pat Pw
φ = = =
X ws Pws / Pat Pws
Moist air property - RH
Relative humidity (φ)
Relative humidity can also be defined as the ratio
of the partial pressure of the water vapour in
moist air, to the partial pressure of the water
vapour in saturated air at the same temperature;

Pw
φ =
Pws
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Example 1

Calculate the relative humidity of a moist air at temperature

of 20 oC and vapour pressure of 1.5 kPa.
Solution:
From steam table, at 20 oC,
Saturation vapor pressure Pws = 2.337 kPa

Pw 1.5
φ = = = 64.2%
Pws 2.337

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Instead of using the steam table, the saturation vapor
pressure of water (Ps) at a specific temperature can be
calculated :

log10Ps = 30.59051 - 8.2 log10T + 0.0024804T- 3142.31/T

where Ps is in unit of kPa,

and T is the absolute temperature.

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Degree of Saturation (µ)

µ is the ratio of moisture content of moist air

(w) to the moisture content of saturated
moist air (ws) at the same temperature and
pressure,

µ = w / ws

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 mw
w =
ma

Pw V R a T Pw R a Pw Ra
w = × = ⋅ = ⋅
R w T Pa V Pa R w Pat − Pw R w

Pws Ra
ws = ⋅
Pat − Pws R w

w Pw Pat − Pws Pw  Pat − Pws 

µ = = ⋅ =  
ws Pat − Pw Pws Pws  Pat − Pw 
  Pat − Pws 
⇒ µ = φ  
 Pat − Pw 

Now Pw ≤ Pws

∴ (Pat - Pws) ≤ (Pat - Pw)

∴ µ ≤ φ

The difference between µ and φ is usually less than 2%.

Moist air property - h
Enthalpy of moist air (h)

Assumptions :

(i) Gibbs - Dalton Law hold.

(ii) Enthalpy of dry air and water is taken to

be zero at 0 oC.

(iii) All water vapour contained in the moist air

is vapourized at 0 oC.

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Moist air property - h
Enthalpy of moist air (h)

h = Cpd t + w (hfg.o + Cps t )

= (Cpd + w Cps) t + w hfg.o

h = Cpa t + w hfg.o kJ/(kg dry air)

Example 2

In a summer day the ambient temperature and RH is 30 oC and

80%, respectively. The atmospheric pressure is 101.3 kPa. Find
the moisture content and specific enthalpy of the air.

Note: The specific heat of dry air and water vapour is 1.005
and 1.88 kJ/kg·K, respectively, obtained from the tables of
thermodynamic properties of fluid.

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Solution:
φ = 0.8 , Pat = 101.3 kPa
From steam table, at 30 oC,
Saturation water pressure Pws = 4.242 kPa
Pw
φ = 0.8 =
Pws
⇒ Pw = 4.242 × 0.8 = 3.3936 kPa

Pw
∴ w = 0.622 = 0.02156 kg / kg dry air
Pat - Pw
 Cpd = 1.005 kJ/kg K
Cps = 1.88 kJ/kg K

h = Cpd t + w (hfg.o + Cps t)

= 1.005 × 30 + 0.02156 (2501+ 1.88 × 30)
= 85.29 kJ/kg
=========

Note that in this case the specific heat of the ambient

air is
Cpa = Cpd + w Cps

= 1.005 + 0.02156 × 1.88 = 1.046 kJ/kg K

Moist air property - tdp
Dew Point Temperature
The dew point of a moist air is
the temperature of saturated air
which has the same moisture
content as the moist air under
consideration.
Example 3

The air in a room is at temperature of 17 oC and

relative humidity 60%. If the barometric pressure
is 101.3 kN/m2, find

(a) the humidity ratio; and

(b) the dew point temperature of the air.

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Solution:
φ = 0.6 , Pat = 101.3 kN/m2
From steam table, at 17 oC,
Saturation water vapour pressure Pws = 1.936 kN/m2
Pw
φ = 0.6 =
Pws

⇒ Pw = 1.936 × 0.6 = 1.1616 kN/m 2

Pw
∴ w = 0.622 = 0.007215 kg / kg dry air
Pat - Pw
Refer to properties of saturated vapour from
the steam table,

if Pws = 1.1616 kN/m2 ,

then temperature t = 9.2 oC

∴ dew point temperature of the room air

is 9.2 oC.

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Example 4

It is required to heat 2 m3 of the moist air in Example 3 to

30 oC. Calculate the mass of dry air and the heat required
for heating up the air.

Given: Gas constant of dry air = 287.1 J/kg K

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Solution:
(1) (2)
2 m3, 17oC, 30oC,
w1 , h1 w2 , h2

At the initial state (1):

Vapour pressure Pw = 1.162 kN/m2 (from example 3)
Partial air pressure,
Pa = Pat - Pw = 101.3 - 1.162 = 100.138 kN/m2
Specific volume,
ν = Ra t / Pa = 287.1× 290 / 100138 = 0.8314 m3/kg
Mass of dry air, ma = 2/ ν = 2.405 kg
h1 = (Cpd + w1 Cps) t1 + w1 hfg.o kJ/kg dry air

h2 = (Cpd + w2 Cps) t2 + w2 hfg.o kJ/kg dry air

w1 = w2 = w = 0.007215 kg/kg dry air (from example 3)

Heat required,
q = ma (h2 - h1)
= ma (Cpd + w Cps) (t2 - t1)
= 2.405 (1.005 + 0.007215 × 1.88) (30 - 17)
= 31.85 kJ
======
Moist air property - t*
Thermodynamic Wet Bulb Temperature (t*)

Ideal adiabatic saturation process

An ideal adiabatic
saturation process is:
- Moist air flows over an infinitely
long water surface in an insulated chamber;
- no heat exchange between the chamber and the surrounding;
- water inside the chamber and make-up water are at t*,
same temperature as the leaving air;
- water evaporates into the air stream; and latent heat of
vapourization comes from sensible heat of the latter;
- at the end of the process, the air is cooled and saturated.
Thermodynamic Wet Bulb Temperature (t*)

Mass of water evaporated

into the air stream = ws* - w1

Sensible heat loss = Latent heat of vapourization of

of the air stream water added to the air stream
Thermodynamic Wet Bulb Temperature (t*)

Cpd (t1 - t*) + Cps w1 (t1 - t*) = (ws* - w1) hfg*

⇒ (Cpd + Cps w1) (t1 - t*) = (ws* - w1) hfg*

⇒ Cpa (t1 - t*) = (ws* - w1) hfg*

t1 - t * h fg *
⇒ =
w s * - w1 C pa
 t1 - t * h fg *
In the expression =
w s * - w1 C pa

ws* = f (t*), and hfg* = f (t*)

Hence, t* is a parameter which is dependent

on t1 and w1 only,

i.e., t* is fixed for a given state of t1 and w1.

t* is termed the thermodynamic wet bulb

temperature
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Principle for Measuring Wet Bulb Temperature
(twb)

twb measured with

a psychrometer is
a close
approximation of t*

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Humidity of a moist air can be determined by:

 measuring the wet bulb temperature;

 measuring the dew point temperature;

 measuring the relative humidity;

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Measuring the wet bulb temperature, twb

Knowing twb ,
w can be calculated;

Pw is obtained from: w = 0.622 Pw / (Pat - Pw)

Then, relative humidity φ = Pw / Pws
Measuring the dew point temperature, tdp
Principle:
A polished metal surface, in contact with the air at
temperature t with water vapour pressure Pw , is cooled
gradually by evaporation of volatile liquid.
Measure the metal surface temperature, tdp , when
condensation occurs.

Knowing tdp , then Pw = Pws at tdp

Pws at t dp Pws at t dp
w = 0.622 and φ =
Pat − Pws at t dp Pws at t
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 Plastic form coated
with hygroscopic
material
Measuring the RH
by using a humistor
hygrometer and measuring Bifilar winding
of metal wire
the resistance of a humidity
sensitive resistor.
5
At 21 oC
4
Resistance, ohm

3 ±4%

2 Error band
±3%
1

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Relative humidity, % 39
Note that
 the moisture content (w) vapour pressure (Pw)
and enthalpy (h) of a moist air cannot be directly
measured;
 but the temperature (t) and atmospheric pressure
(Pat) can be measured easily;
 and the humidity, particularly the wet bulb
temperature (twb), can also be readily measured;
 The measured t, twb and Pat can be used to
calculate the other properties.

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Example 5

The dry bulb and wet bulb temperature of the outdoor air is
33oC and 28oC, respectively, and the atmospheric pressure is
101.325 kPa.

Calculate the relative humidity, moisture content, enthalpy,

dew point temperature and specific volume of the outdoor air.

[Carry out the calculation. If in doubt, refer to the method of

calculation given in the Study Guide.]

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Unlike Example 5, if dry-bulb (t) and dew point temperature (tdp)
are measured, the other moist air properties can be calculated
by:

i) Calculate Pws at t and Pws at tdp by equation (3), or

obtain from the steam table;
ii) Vapour pressure Pw = Pws at tdp ;
Dry air pressure Pa = Pat – Pw ;
iii) Calculate moisture content w by equation (1);
iv) Calculate relative humidity φ by equation (2);
v) Calculate specific enthalpy h by equation (5);
vi) Calculate specific volume ν by equation (9).

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Construction of the psychrometric chart
 A psychrometric chart consists of lines of

constant temperature (t)

wet bulb temperature (twb)
relative humidity (φ)
specific volume (ν)

in a w-h coordinates

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Constant temperature lines
At t = t1 ,
h = cpd t1 + w (2501 + cps t1) = a(t) + b(t) ⋅ w

where a(t) = cpd ⋅ t1 and b(t) = 2501 + cps t1

Constant relative humidity (φ) lines
φ = Pw / Pws ∴ Pw = φ × Pws(t)
Pw φ ⋅ Pws (t)
w = 0.622 = 0.622 = f ( φ, t) (i)
Pat − Pw Pat - φ ⋅ Pws (t)

h - 2501 ⋅ w
t= (ii)
C pd + w ⋅ C ps

The parameter t in (ii) can

be expressed in terms of φ
and w based on (i), giving an
equation relating h, w and φ.
Hence, curves of constant φ
relating change of w with h
can be constructed.
 Saturation curve
Pws (t)
w = 0.622
Pat − Pws (t)
o
wo

Dew point temperature to

of air at state point 'o'
Constant wet bulb (twb) lines
hf = Cpw × twb and hwb = Cpd twb + wwb (hfg + Cpstwb)

h = hwb - (wwb - w) hf = (hwb - wwb hf)+ w hf

∴ for a constant wet

bulb temperature,
h = a+bw
Constant specific volume (ν) lines
ν = Ra t / Pa = Ra t / (Pat – Pw)
w Pat h - 2501 ⋅ w
Pw = and t =
0.622 + w C pd + w ⋅ C ps

Hence, when ν is a constant,

h = a w-1 + b + c w
Curves of constant ν relating
change of w with h can be
constructed.
Lastly, we can construct a psychrometric chart
where:
 w and h are the principle variables;
 w-axis is vertical but h-axis is inclined at an
angle θ to the horizontal such that the line of t =
0 oC becomes vertical;
 Inclination angle θ of h-axis depends on the
scaling factors Fw and Fh for converting values
of w in kg/kg and h in kJ/kg into proportional
linear distances on the chart.

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In the CIBSE psychrometric chart:
 w-axis – use a linear distance of 15 cm for 0.03 kg/kg
Fw = 15 / 0.03 = 500
 h-axis – use 24 cm for 150 kJ/kg
w-axis
Fh = 24 / 150 = 0.16 h-axis

 sin θ = Fh hfg / Fw
= 0.16×2501 / 500 24 cm
(150 kJ/kg)
15 cm
= 0.8003 (0.03 kg/kg)

⇒ θ = 53.16o
θ
x-axis
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Note that:
 One chart only applies for one atmospheric
pressure. Normal pressure (pressure at sea
level): 101.325 kPa

 Two different chart format exist, one

represented by ASHRAE or CIBSE chart, and the
other used by most of the non-English-speaking
European countries.

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The psychrometric chart is useful for:
 Given any two parameters, find the other parameters
using the chart;

 Find the dew point temperature of an air sample;

 Calculate energy required in heating, cooling of air,

humidification and dehumidification of air;

 Given the indoor design conditions and cooling load,

determine the required supply air conditions and flow
rate, or vice versa.

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