PSYCHROMETRICS: HEATING & HUMIDIFYING

or COOLING & DEHUMIDIFYING

I) Objective
The objective of this experiment is to examine the state of moist air as it enters and passes
through the air handling unit. When weather conditions permit, the process investigated is
cooling with dehumidification. During cooler, dryer times a heating and humidifying process is
investigated. Based on measurements of air dry-bulb temperatures, humidity levels and flow
rates it is possible to evaluate both the sensible and latent energy changes that the air undergoes
as it passes through the process.
II) Background
A psychrometric chart provides a convenient way to look at the processes. In the charts shown
below, the processes begin at state 1. The enthalpy values on the psychrometric charts are
specific values, i.e. they are per unit mass (for convenience, they are customarily expressed in
terms of unit mass of dry air).
Heating/humidifying:
In the heating/humidifying process the air first passes through a heat exchanger and then through
the humidifier where steam at a mass flow rate of up to 25.7 lbmw/hr and specific enthalpy hw is
sprayed into the air stream. The heating and humidification of the air is best considered by
looking at the two processes sequentially. The first, from state 1 to state 2, is the sensible
heating that occurs when the air passes through the heat exchanger. The second, from state 2 to
state 3, is the humidification process.
During the sensible heating process the rate of energy added to the moist air, 1 Q& 2 , is written as:

& = m& (h h )
a 2
1

1 Q2

Eqn. 1

where: h1= the specific enthalpy of the moist air upstream of the heating coil
h2= the specific enthalpy of the moist air downstream of the heating coil (and upstream of
the humidifier.)
m& a = the mass flow rate of dry air through the process.
In the humidification process the energy equation is:

m& a (h3 h2 ) = m& w hw

Eqn. 2

where: h3= the specific enthalpy of the moist air downstream of the humidifier
hw= the specific enthalpy of the steam
m& w = mass flow rate of the steam
4-1

& w , is determined by a water vapor mass balance:

The rate of moisture addition to the air, m
m& w = m& a (W3 W2 )

Eqn. 3

where: W2= humidity ratio of the moist air upstream of the humidifier
W3= humidity ratio of the moist air downstream of the humidifier
Combining these equations leads to the result:

h3 h2
= hw
W3 W2

Eqn. 4

where the left side of the equation represents the slope of the humidification process on a
psychrometric chart. Thus the direction of the process can be determined from the enthalpy of
the steam added to the air stream and the enthalpy moisture protractor on a psychrometric
chart.

h3
Enthalpy, h

h2

W3

h1
1

t1

W1 = W2

Moisture Content

hw

t2 t3

Dry-Bulb Temperature

Figure 1: Heating and Humidifying

Cooling/dehumidifying
The cooling and dehumidifying process is shown in Figure 2. It begins at state 1 and ends at
state 2. The refrigeration capacity required to accomplish this, Q& R , is obtained from the energy
balance:

Q& R = m& a (h1 h2 ) (W1 W2 )h f , 2

Eqn. 5

4-2

where hf,2 is the enthalpy of saturated liquid at temperature t2. The second term in the square
bracket is the enthalpy associated with the liquid condensate as it runs out of the cooling coil.
This term is small compared to (h1-h2) which is the enthalpy difference to cool the air and
condense the water. The approximation is often made where the process is divided into sensible,
(S), and latent, (L), components.

Q& RS = m& a (h2 ha ) and

Q& RL = m& a (ha h1 )

Eqn. 6
Eqn. 7

Then Q& R ~
= Q& RS + Q& RL

Eqn. 8

The sensible heat ratio for the process is then: SHR =

Q& RS
Q& RS + Q& RL

Eqn. 9

The rate at which moisture is removed from the air is:

m& w = m& a (W1 W2 )

Eqn. 10

Saturation
Line

ha

Enthalpy, h

1
W1

h2
W2 = Wa
2

t2

t1 = ta

Moisture Content

h1

Dry-Bulb Temperature

Figure 2: Cooling and Dehumidifying

A dew point hygrometer is used to measure the dew point temperature of the air. This
instrument uses a thermoelectric refrigeration module to cool a highly reflective plate until
condensation forms. A light source shines on the plate and when condensation occurs, the
reflected intensity measured by a photosensor drops significantly. The instrument then maintains
the plate at the dew point temperature through a feedback control system.
4-3

III) Procedure
Write a simple data acquisition program to measure the air dry-bulb temperatures. Set the speed
of the fan to 45 Hz. Measure the velocity pressure and determine the volumetric airflow rate.
Measure the dry bulb and dew point temperatures necessary to determine the heating and
humidifying or cooling and dehumidifying processes. Also, measure the dry bulb and wet bulb
temperatures needed to locate any mixing process at the inlet to the air handling unit.
Refer to Appendix H for channel assignments of instruments and calibration relationships.

IV) Report Requirements

A) Draw a schematic of the system and label all the equipment, processes, and state points.
B) Using the notation selected in part A, locate the air state points to describe the mixing
process, (if any), and either the heating and humidifying processes or the cooling/dehumidifying
process on the psychrometric chart at steady state. Clearly draw and label all the process paths
on the chart.
C) Tabulate the dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, dew point temperature, humidity
ratio, enthalpy, relative humidity, and specific volume for each of the moist air state points.
D) Estimate the error in each value listed in part C.
E) Calculate the mass flow rates of dry air and water vapor at all state points.
F) For the heating and humidifying process do the following:
Compare the calculated mass flow rate of the steam injected by the humidifier with the value
indicated on the humidifiers key pad/digital display.
Compare the slope of the process line for the humidifier with the value predicted by Equation 4.
Calculate the sensible heat gain for the heating coil and fan processes.

For the cooling and dehumidifying process do the following:

Calculate the total, sensible, and latent cooling rates across the cooling coil.
Calculate the sensible heat ratio for the cooling/dehumidifying process.
Determine the apparatus dew-point temperature of the coil
Estimate the error if one neglects the condensate term in the equation for Q& R .
Calculate the rate of sensible heat added to the air from the fan.

4-4

Name

Date

ME 4131 THERMAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

Psychrometrics Data Acquisition Sheet
Barometric Pressure
Centerline Velocity Pressure

in. Hg
in. H2O

Fan Frequency

Hz.

Cooling Coil Temperature

Location
Power Supply for Avg.
Temp. sensors

State Point

Dry bulb temp

Aspirated psychrometer

Aspirated psychrometer

V
F
F

Dry bulb temp

Vaisala

Relative humidity

Vaisala

Dry bulb temp

Type K

Dewpoint hygrometer

Aspirated psychrometer

Aspirated psychrometer

Dewpoint temp
Dry bulb temp
Wet bulb temp

N/A

%
F
F
F
F

Dry bulb temp

Vaisala

Relative humidity

Vaisala

Dry bulb temp

Type K

Dewpoint hygrometer

Avg. temperature sensor

11

N/A

Air Upstream of HX

Wet bulb temp

10

Air Downstream of
Cooling Coil

Channel Units

Mixed Air Upstream of

Cooling Coil

Measurement Device
Power Supply

Mixed Air Upstream of

Filters

Measurement
Power Supply

Return Air

N/A

1
Outdoor Air

(cooling and dehumidification)

Dewpoint temp
Dry bulb temp
Dewpoint temp

Dewpoint hygrometer

Dry bulb temp

Vaisala

Relative humidity

Vaisala

Dry bulb temp

Avg. temperature sensor

4
5
5
6

Dewpoint temp

Dewpoint hygrometer

Dry bulb temp

Avg. temperature sensor

Dewpoint temp

Dewpoint hygrometer

Dry bulb temp

Avg. temperature sensor

N/A

%
F
F
F
F

N/A

11

N/A

12

N/A

12

F
F
F
F
F

Air Downstream of HX

Dry bulb temp

Avg. temperature sensor

13

Air Downstream of
Humidifier

Dry bulb temp

Avg. temperature sensor

14

Dry bulb temp

Vaisala

Relative humidity

Vaisala

Dry bulb temp

Ref. Junction
Voltage
Steam Temperature

Avg. temperature sensor

Type T TC with Cold-Junction
Compensator
Type T TC

Pitot
Tube
Location

N/A
Humidifier Steam

N/A

4-5

F
F

N/A

14

15

16

Value