BASIC PROCESSES IN CONDITIONING AIR

The common processes involved in air conditioning air at practically constant pressures and can be
illustrated by lines on a psychometric chart.

Figure 21 Basic psychrometric process.

Process 0 – 1 : Sensible Heating ( raising the dry-bulb temperature of air at constant humidity ratio )
Process 0 – 2 : Sensible Cooling ( lowering dry-bulb the temperature air at constant humidity ratio )
Process 0 – 3 : Humidifying ( increasing the moisture content of air at constant dry-bulb temperature )
Process 0 – 4 : Dehumidifying ( decreasing the moisture content of at constant dry-bulb temperature )
Process 0 – 5 : Heating and humidifying ( simultaneous increase in dry-bulb temperature and the
moisture content of air )
Process 0 – 6 : Cooling and dehumidifying ( simultaneous decrease in the dry-bulb temperature and
moisture content of air )
Process 0 – 7 : Cooling and humidifying ( simultaneous decrease in dry-bulb temperature and increase in
the moisture content of air )
Process 0 – 8 : Heating and dehumidifying ( simultaneous increase in dry-bulb temperature and decrease
in in the moisture content of air )

The first two processes, sensible heating and cooling, involve only a change in the dry-bulb temperature.
Humidifying and dehumidifying involve a change in humidity ratio (moisture content). The last four processes
involve both changes in temperature as well as in humidity ratio.
Sensible Heating

This process involves heating at constant humidity ratio (moisture content). It is represented by a horizontal
line from left to right on the psychrometric charts shown in Figure 22.

Figure 22 Sensible heating process.

 Sensible heating can be done by

passing stream of air in an electric
resistance heater or coil with
circulating steam or hot water.

 Heating coils mean surface

temperature, ts is higher than dry-
bulb temperature of air ( ts > td)

Mass balance about the heater:

mmoist air in = mmoist air out
m1 + mv1 = m2 + mv2
m1 + m1 W1 = m2 + m2 W2 ; W1 = W2 Figure 23 Entering and leaving conditions of air in
m1 = m2 = ma the heating coils.
A1 υ1 = A2 υ2
v1 v2

where: m1 = m2 = ma = mass flow rate of dry-air, ma

Energy balance about the heater: State 1 State 2

Ein = Eout mv1 = mv2
pv1 = pv2
m1 h1 + QA = m2 h2 m1 = m2 = m W1 = W2
td1 < td2
QA = m ( h2 – h1 ) tw1 < tw2
tdp1 = tdp2
where: m = ma = mass of dry-air Ø1 > Ø2
h1 < h2
Sensible Cooling

This process lowering the temperature of air at constant humidity ratio (moisture content). It is represented
by a horizontal line from right to left on the psychrometric charts shown in Figure 22. It can be done up to dew-
point temperature.

Figure 22 Sensible cooling process.

 Sensible cooling can be done by

passing stream of air in a coil with
circulating chilled water or
refrigerant.

 Cooling coils mean surface

temperature, ts is below than dry-
bulb temperature of air but above
dew point temperature ( ts > td > tdp)
to avoid condensation of water vapor
(or W1 = W2)

Mass balance about the heater:

m1 = m2
A1 υ1 = A2 υ2
v1 v2 Figure 23 Entering and leaving conditions of air in the cooling coils.

Energy balance about the heater: State 1 State 2

Ein = Eout mv1 = mv2
pv1 = pv2
m1 h1 = m2 h2 + QR m1 = m2 = m W1 = W2
td1 > td2
QR = m ( h1 – h2 ) tw1 > tw2
tdp1 = tdp2
where: m = ma = mass of dry-air Ø1 < Ø2
h1 > h2
Problems

Sensible Heating Process

1.) Determine the quantity of heat required to raise 14 m3/min of air at 20oC and 80 percent relative humidity to
35oC. What is the final relative humidity? Ans: 4.27 kJ/sec, 34%

2.) How much heat is required to raise the temperature of 0.50 m3/sec of air from 19oC dry bulb and 15oC wet
bulb to 36? What is the final dew point temperature? Ans: 10.42 kJ/sec, 12.3oC

3.) A heating section consists of 35 cm diameter duct which houses a 4 kW electric resistance heater. Air
enters the heating section at 1 atm, 13oC and 40% relative humidity at a velocity of 7.5 m/s. Determine (a)
the exit temperature, (b) the exit relative humidity of air, and (c) the exit velocity.

Sensible Cooling Process

1.) Determine the quantity of heat removed from 14 m3/min of air when cooled from 37oC dry bulb and 21oC
wet bulb temperature to 15oC. What are the initial and final relative humidities? Ans: 6.04 kJ/sec, 23%,
85%

2.) How much heat must be removed to cool 30 m3/min of air from 34oC dry-bulb temperature and 18oC dew
point to a wet bulb temperature of 19oC? What is the final relative humidity?

3.) Air enters a cooling section at 97 kPa, 35 oC and 20% relative humidity at a rate of 12 m3/min where it is
cooled until moisture in the air starts condensing. Determine (a) the temperature of air at exit and (b) the
rate of heat transfer in the cooling section. Ans: 8.7oC, 348.8 kJ/min
Air Washer
Figure 24 shows the schematic representation of
an air washer. It involves the flow of air through a
spray of water. During the course of flow, the air
may be cooled or heated, humidified or
dehumidified, or simply adiabatically saturated,
depending on the mean surface temperature of
water, ts. The water is, accordingly, externally
cooled or heated or simply recirculated by a pump.
Make-up water is added for any loss in the case of
humidification of air. Eliminator plates are
provided to minimize the loss of water droplets.

Figure 24 Air Washer

Humidifying Process
– is a process of increasing the humidity ratio (or adding
moisture into the air) without changing the dry-bulb
temperature of the air. The process is represented in the
psychrometric chart by a vertical line (upward).

Figure 25 Psychrometric diagram, humidifying

Application: Air in a duct passing through the air washer (see Figure 26).

Mass balance of moist air and moisture

added:
Σmin = Σmout
mAir in + mmoisture added = mAir out
(m1 + m1W1) + mmoisture added = (m2 + m2W2)

mmoisture added = m (W2 – W1)

Energy balance between air and moisture

added:

Heat to moist air = Heat from moisture added

QLH moist air = QLH moisture added
m (h2 – h1) = mmoisture added (hfg@ts)
Figure 26 Humidifying of air in an air washer
m (h2 – h1) = m (W2 – W1) hfg@ts
where: Note: Pump flow rate, mH2O
mv1 = m1W1 and does not necessarily equal where: QLH = latent heat
mv2 = m2W2 to the moisture added to air.
m1 = m2 = m = mass of dry air
ts = mean surface temperature of water equal td1 (or ts = td1)
Humidifying Process Sample Problem

A room humidifier is used to increase the relative humidity of air from 40% to 60% while maintaining a dry
bulb temperature of 21oC. The volume flow rate of air entering the humidifier is 1 m3/sec. Calculate (a) the
mass flow rate of water in kg/day (b) the volume flow rate at the exit, m3/sec and (c) the latent heat absorb
by air kJ/sec. Room pressure is 101.3 kPa. Ans: 318.2 kg/day, 1.0045 m3/sec, 9.03 kJ/sec

Heating and Humidifying Process

Air can be simultaneously heated and humidified by

either drawing it through a spray, or over trays of warm
water. The water must be externally heated during the
process in order to supply the latent heat needed for
evaporation. Trays of warm water can be kept at constant
temperature by steam. However when warm water is
sprayed into the air stream, as in an air washer, the water
must be heated as it is circulated. (see Figure 28)
Figure 27 Psychrometric diagram, simultaneous
heating and humidifying process.

 In an air washer the mean surface temperature of water, ts is greater than the dry bulb entering
temperature, td1 of air (or ts > td1)

Mass balance of moist air and moisture

added:
Σmin = Σmout
mAir in + mmoisture added = mAir out
(m1 + m1W1) + mmoisture added = (m2 + m2W2)

mmoisture added = m (W2 – W1)

Total heat added to air, Q:

Q = QS + QL
= m (hX – h1) + m (h2 – hX)

Q = m (h2 – h1)
Figure 28 Humidifying of air in an air washer
where: QS = sensible heat
QL = latent heat
Heating and Humidifying Process Sample Problems

1.) How much moisture and heat must be added to 28m3/min of air at 24oC and 40 percent relative humidity to
raise it to 38oC dry bulb and 27oC wet bulb temperature? Ans: 0.00581 kg/sec, 22.73 kW

2.) How much heat and moisture must be added to 15m3/min of air at 21oC dry bulb and 30 percent relative
humidity to raise it to 37oC and 40 percent relative humidity? Ans: 13.39 kJ/sec, 0.00333 kg/sec
Steam Injection (Simultaneous Heating and Humidifying)
Steam is normally injected into fresh air
outdoor air which is then supplied for the
conditioning of textile mills where high
humidities have to be maintained. Steam
injection process is shown in Fig. 39. The dry
bulb temperature of air changes very little
during the process.

Figure 38 Heating and humidifying chamber using steam.

The process can be analysed by considering mass and energy balances:

Mass balance:
mmoisture added = m (W2 – W1)
mmoisture added = mass of steam supplied, ms

Energy balance:
mh1 + mshs = mh2
m (h2 – h1) = mshs

where: hs = enthalpy of the steam

= hg at steam temperature or
pressure if saturated vapour.

Figure 39 Process with Steam Injection.

Steam Injection Process Sample Problem

1.) Dry saturated steam at 100oC is injected at rate of 0.01 kg/sec into a moist air stream moving at a rate of 1.0
kgd.a. per sec. and initially a state of 28oC DB, 11.9oC WB and 101.325 kPa barometric pressure. Calculate
the final state (a) humidity ratio (b) enthalpy and (c) dry-bulb temperature. Ans: 0.0119 kg/kg.d.a ; 59.87
kJ/kg.d.a;

Sensible Heating and Simultaneous Heating and Humidifying Processes Sample Problems

1.) An air conditioning system is to take in outdoor air at 10 oC and 30% RH at a steady state of 45 m3/min and
to condition it 25oC and 60% RH . The outdoor air is first heated to 22oC in the heating section and then
humidified by the injection of saturated steam in the humidifying section. Assuming the entire process to be
place at 101.325 kPa, determine (a) rate of heat supply in the heating section and (b) the mass flow rate of
steam required in the humidifying section. Ans: 686.71 kJ/min; 0.547 kg/min

2.) Moist air enters a chamber at 5oC DB and 2.5oC WB at a rate of 90 m3/min. The barometric pressure is
1.01325 bar. While passing through the chamber, the air absorbs sensible heat at the rate of 40.7 kW and
picks up 40 kg/hr of saturated steam at 110oC. Determine the dry and wet bulb temperatures of the leaving
air. Ans: 26.5oC ; 18.1oC
Cooling and Humidifying Processes
Cooling and humidifying is a process of simultaneous cooling and humidifying of air passing through a
spray of water in an air washer. The following simultaneous cooling and humidifying processes in an air
washer are possible:

Process 1-2A: Cooling and Humidification

(tw1 < ts < td1)
The mean surface temperature of water ts is less
than the initial dry bulb temperature of air td1 but
greater than the initial wet bulb temperature of air tw1.
Though the air is cooled, its enthalpy increases as a
result of humidification. The water is therefore,
required to be externally heated.

Process 1-2B: Adiabatic saturation (tw1 = ts )

This is a simultaneous process of cooling and
humidifying without changing the wet-bulb temperature
(or tw1 = tw2). This is the case of pumped recirculation
of water without any external heating or cooling. The
recirculated water ts reaches the equilibrium
temperatures which is equal to the initial
thermodynamic wet bulb temperature of air tw1.
Figure 29 Possible simultaneous cooling and humidifying
process in an air washer.

 Adiabatic – means no heating or cooling of water externally.

 Saturation – implies adding moisture.

Process 1-2C: Cooling and Humidification (tdp1 < ts < tw1)

The process is similar to 1-2C with the difference that the enthalpy of air decreases in this case.
Accordingly, water is required to be externally cooled.

Following conclusions:

(i) If the spray water is heated external to the washer, the final wet-bulb temperature, tw2 of air increases.
(ii) If the spray water is cooled external to the washer, the final wet-bulb temperature, tw2 of air decreases.
(iii) If the spray water is neither heated nor cooled external to washer, the final wet-bulb temperature, tw2 of
air in not changed.

For all processes:

mmoisture added = m (W2 – W1)

For process 1-2A, the total heat added to air, Q = m (h2 – h1) ; h2 > h1

For process 1-2C, the total heat removed from air, Q = m (h1 – h2) ; h1 > h2
Humidifying Efficiency of Air Washer, ηH

In a perfect washer, the final dry bulb (td2) and final dew point (tdp2) temperatures of the air would be equal
to each other, and equal to initial wet bulb temperature (t w1) of the air ( meaning the final state 2 of air is a
saturated air ). The efficiency of an air washer is defined as ratio of the actual drop in dry-bulb temperature
to the maximum theoretical drop in dry bulb temperature that could take place if washer were 100 percent
efficient, and the air emerged saturated. In such a case, the final dry bulb temperature (td2) of the air would be
equal to its final dew point temperature, tdp1 or equal to mean surface temperature of water, ts or equal to its
initial wet bulb temperature for adiabatic saturation process.

 Recirculated water is sprayed into air, and part of it evaporates in trying to saturate the air. If this
spraying is effective enough, the air leaves the spray 100 percent saturated. Then, after equilibrium is
established, the air will leave at the temperature of its wet bulb (meaning the air will leave saturated
air), and the recirculated water will be at the same temperature.

Humidifying Efficiency of Air Washer, ηH

ηH = td1 – td2 = W2 – W1 = h2 – h1
td1 – ts Ws – W1 hs – h1

Bypass Factor, X

X = Ws – W2 = 1 – W2 – W1 = 1 – ηH
Ws – W1 Ws – W1

Cooling and Humidifying Process Sample Problems

1.) Air at 33oC dry bulb and 19oC wet bulb temperatures is cooled and humidified by passing it through an
air washer in which water is continuously recirculated. The air leaves the air washer at 23 oC dry bulb
temperature. Determine the moisture added per kg of dry air. What is the efficiency of the air washer?
Ans: 0.0041 kg/kg d.a. ; 71.43%

2.) 1.5 m3/sec of moist air at a state of 15oC dry bulb, 10oC wet bulb, enters the spray chamber of an air
washer. Humidifying efficiency of the washer is 90%, all the spray water is recirculated, the spray
chamber is perfectly lagged, and feed at 10oC from the water board main is supplied to make good the
losses due to evaporation. Determine the following:

(a) the state of air leaving the washer and

(b) the rate of make-up water from main, kg/hr.
Ans: (a) td2 = 10.5oC; W2 = 0.0074 kg/kg d.a. (b) 11.81 kg hr

3.) Air at 32oC and 20 percent relative humidity is cooled and humidified by means of an air washer until
the relative humidity becomes 90 percent. How much moisture was added per kg of dry air. What was
the air washer efficiency and the dew point temperature of the leaving air? Ans: 0.0057 kg/kgd.a.,
92%, 16.7oC
Cooling Process ( ts = tdp1)
Cooling can be done in an air washer at constant
humidity ratio (W1=W2). This is achieved when the
temperature of water ts is equal to the dew-point
temperature of air tdp1. Water is required to be
externally cooled. Figure 30 shows the process diagram
in a psychrometric chart.

Figure 30 Psychrometric diagram cooling process.

Dehumidifying
Dehumidifying is a process of removing moisture from air. There is no method by which one can obtain
simple dehumidification of air. Dehumidification processes are accompanied with either simultaneously
cooling or heating of air.

Cooling and dehumidification ( ts < tdp1)

The mean water surface temperature ts is lower than
the initial dew point temperature of air tdp1. Air is
simultaneously cooled and dehumidified.

Air can be simultaneously cooled and dehumidified

by being drawn over cold surfaces or through spray of
cold water. When air is cooled and dehumidified by
being drawn through a spray chamber such as air
washer, the spray water is cooled outside of the air
washer by means of cooler installed in the circulating
pipe line. The water is constantly chilled as it is
circulated. The temperature of the water rises while
being sprayed because it absorb sensible and latent heat
from the air. However, the heat that the water absorbs
is being continually removed by the cooler installed in
the circulating pipe line. See Figure 31.
Figure 31 Cooling and dehumidifying of air in an
air washer.

Figure 32 shows the approximate or ideal path

and actual path of simultaneous cooling and
dehumidifying process. The limiting process is
along the condition line tangent to the saturation
line drawn from initial state 1.

With many processes of conditioning air in an

air washer. It is thus seen that air washer affords
means for an year-round air conditioning system.

Figure 32 Simultaneous Cooling and dehumidifying process.

 When cooling coils are used as shown in Figure 33, the temperature of the film of air in contact with the
surface of the metal pipe wall determines the condition of the air flowing through the coil. The temperature of
this film is always at some point between the temperature of the air and the temperature of the chilled water or
refrigerant inside the coil. Dehumidification takes place since the surface temperature of the cooling coils, ts
(or apparatus dew-point of the coil, tADP) is lower than the dew-point temperature of air, tdp1.

Figure 33 Cooling and dehumidifying of air in a cooling coils.

Mass balance of air and moisture removed:

Σmin = Σmout
mAir in = mAir out + mmoisture removed
(m1 + m1W1) = (m2 + m2W2) + mmoisture removed

mmoisture removed = m (W1 – W2) also known as water condensate or drip water, mH2O

Energy balance: (Steady flow)

Ein = Eout
mh1 = QR + mh2 + mH2O hcond

QR = m (h1 – h2) – mH2O hcond Exact heat removed from air

where: m = m1 = m2 = mass flow rate of dry air

mH2O = mass flow rate of moisture removed or condensate/drip water
hcond = specific enthalpy of water at condensate temperature, tcond
= hf at tcond

 If tcond is not given, the approximate heat removed from air would simply be

QR = m (h1 – h2)

Heat balance between air and cooling medium (refrigerant/chilled water)

Heat from air = Heat to refrigerant/chilled water

QR = mref/chilled water x Δhref or chilled water

Cooling and Dehumidifying Process Sample Problems

1.) How much heat and moisture must be removed to cool 28 m3/min of air from 35oC dry bulb and 26oC wet
bulb temperature to 21oC and 50% relative humidity? Ans: 20.57 kJ/sec; 0.0051 kg/sec

2.) How much heat must be removed to cool 50 m3/min of air at 29oC dry bulb and 21oC wet bulb temperatures
to 16oC dry bulb and 14oC temperatures? How much moisture was removed? Ans: 20.55 kJ/sec, 0.00315
kg/sec