College of Engineering

Name of Student:________________________ Year/Section : BSME 5

Subject: Industrial Air Conditioning and Ventilation Systems Teacher: Emmanuel P. Miguel

MODULE No. #2 , Midterms

TITLE: Processes in Conditioning Air
OVERVIEW The module includes processes in conditioning air, mixing air, cooling
load air quantities, and air handling methods.
INTRODUCTION The conservation of mass and energy is used in the study of air
conditioning processes. Analysis of air conditioning processes is required
for maintaining proper temperature and humidity in living space such as
residential, commercial, and industrial facilities
LEARNING After completing this course, the student must be able to:
OUTCOMES
1. Perform an air-conditioning load calculation
2. Apply the principles of heat transfer and thermodynamic analysis to
air-conditioning systems
LEARNING 1. To perform an air-conditioning load calculation
OBJECTIVES 2. To Apply the principles of heat transfer and thermodynamic analysis to
air-conditioning systems
I. BASIC PROCESSES IN CONDITIONING OF AIR

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

Process : 0-1: Sensible heating Process

0-2:
0-3: Humidifying Process
0-4: Dehumidifying Process
0-5: Heating and humidifying Process
0-6: Cooling and dehumidifying Process
0-7: Cooling and humidifying Process
0-8: Heating and dehumidifying

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 PROCESS

This process involves heating at constant humidity ratio

(moisture content). It is represented by a horizontal line from left
to right on the psychrometric chart.

In general the sensible heating process is carried out by

passing the air over the heating coil. This coil may be heated by
passing the refrigerant, the hot water, the steam or by electric
resistance heating coil. The hot water and steam are used for the
industrial applications

Sensible heat is literally the heat that can be felt.

 It is the energy moving from one system to another that changes the temperature rather
than changing its phase.  For example, it warms water rather than melting ice. In other words, it is
the heat that can be felt standing near a fire, or standing outside on a [[sunny day. Sensible heat is
used in contrast to latent heat (the heat needed to change from one form of matter to another,
which doesn't change temperature), as the two are essentially opposite.

Adding heat to water can either raise the temperature or change the phase. The heat that changes
the temperature is sensible heat, the heat that changes the phase is latent heat.

Example Problem:

1. Determine the quantity of heat required to raise 14 m3/min. if air at 20°C and 80 per cent
relative humidity to 35 0C. What is the final relative
humidity?

Given: Air that is heated

V = 14 m3/min
Td1, = 20°C
1 = 80%,
Td2, = 35°C

Required: What is the final relative Humidity, 2

Solution:

1. Psychrometric Chart

2. mass flow rate, m

3. Psychrometric Chart

4. The heat required, G

5. Therefore: Answers are;

Q = 4.27 KJ/s

2 = 34 %

SENSIBLE COOLING PROCESS

This process involves cooling the air at constant

moisture content. It is represented by a horizontal line from
right to left on the psychrometric chart.
Sensible cooling load is a measurement of the amount of
energy that must be removed from, for example, the air inside a
building, in order to maintain a certain temperature, regardless
of the temperature outside. 
Sensible cooling load refers to “dry bulb temperature”, i.e. a cooling system must be
capable of cooling the air in a building.

Example Problem:

1. Determine the quantity of heat removed from 14 m3 per minute of air when cooled from 37°C
dry bulb and 21 0C wet bulb temperatures to 15°C. What are the initial and final relative humidity?

Given: Air Cooled

Td 1= 37°C
Tw 1= 21°C,
Td 2= 15°C
Required: Quantity of heat remove, Q, Final Relative Humidity, 2
 Solution:

1. From the psychrometric chart at td1 = 37°C and

tw1= 21°C,

2. mass flow rate, m

3. Psychrometric Chart

4. Heat that must be removed, Q

5. Therefore answers are,

Q = -6.04 KJ/s , the (-) negative sign indicates that heat is ejected or removed from
the system
2 = 85 %

HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING

Air can be simultaneously heated and humidified by either drawing it through a spray, or over
trays of warm water. The water must be 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.

Air Washer
 In an air washer, air flows through a spray of water as shown in above. As the air flows, it may be
cooled or heated, humidified, or dehumidified, or simple adiabatically saturated, depending on the mean
surface temperature of the water. The water is externally cooled or heated or simple recirculated by a
pump. Make-up water is added to compensate for any loss in the case of humidification of air. Eliminator
plates are provided to minimize loss of water droplets.

Example Problem:

1. How much heat and moisture must be added to

28 m3 per minute of air at 24°C and 40 per cent
relative humidity to raise it to 38°C dry bulb and
27 0C wet bulb temperatures?

Given and Required: Refer to the given problem.

Solution:

1. From the psychrometric chart at td1= 24 0C and

1 = 40 %.

2. Mass flow rate, m

3. From the psychrometric chart at td2= 38 0C and tw2 = 27 0C

4. Heat Required, Q

Q = m (h2 - h1)

5. Moisture Added,

Moisture added = m (W2-W1)

6. Therefore answers are,

Q = 23.73 KJ /s

Moisture Added = 0.00581 kg/s

COOLING AND DEHUMIDIFYING

 Air can be simultaneously cooled and dehumidified by being
drawn over cold surfaces oj-through sprays of cold water. When air is
cooled and dehumidified by being drawn through a spray chamber, the
spray water is cooled outside of the spray chamber 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 absorbs 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.

When cooling coils are used, 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 surface film is always at some point between the temperature of the air and
the temperature of the water, or other refrigeration, inside the coil.

Exampe Problems:

1. How much heat and moisture must be removed to cool

28 m3 per minute of air from 35 0C dry bulb and 26 0C
wet bulb temperatures to 210 C and 50 per cent relative
humidity?

Given and Required: Refer to the statement of the

problem

Solution:

1. From the psychrometric chart at td1= 35°C and tw1 = 26°C,

2. Mass flow rate, m

3. From the psychrometric chart at td2 = 21°C and 2 =

50%,

4. Heat Removed, Q

Q = m (h2 - h1)
= (31.25) (40.5 - 80)
Q = -1234.4kJ/min . or -20.57 kJ/s

5. Moisture Remove

Moisture removed = m(W2 - W1)

= (31.25) (0.0077 - 0.0175)

= 0.306 kg/min. or 0.0051 kg/s

6. Therefore answers are:
 Q = - 20.57 KJ/s and Moisture removed = 0.0051 kg/s

COOLING AND HUMIDIFYING

Air can be simultaneously cooled and humidified. This action takes place in an ordinary air washer
in which the same water is continuously re-circulated, but is neither heated not cooled.

Constant water circulation without heating or cooling

Figure above shows the changes occuring in the dry bulb and dew point temperatures of the air
flowing through an air washer in which the same water is constantly re-circulated without; being either
heated or cooled. In a perfect washer, the final dry bulb and dew point temperatures of the air would be
equal to each other, and equal to initial wet bulb temperature of the air. The efficiency of an air washer is
defined as the ratio of the actual drop in dry bulb temperature to the maximum theoretical drop in dry bulb
temperature that could take place if the washer were 100 per cent efficient, and the air emerged saturated.
In such a case, the final dry bulb temperature of the air would be equal to its initial wet bulb temperature.

Example Problems:

1. Air at 33°C dry bulb and 19°C wet bulb temperatures is cooled and humidified by passing it through
an air washer in which the water is continuously re-circulated. The air leaves the air washer at 23°C dry
bulb temperature. Determine the moisture added per kg of dry air. What is the efficiency of the air
washer?

Given and Required: Refer to the statement of the problem

Solution:

1. Psychrometric Chart

W1 = 0.0081 kg/kg

W2 = 0.0122 kg/kg

Moisture added = W2 - W1
 = 0.0122 - 0.0081

Moisture added = 0.0041 kg/kg

33  23
Air washer efficiency = 33  19 = 71.43 %

CHEMICAL DEHUMIDIFYING

Air can be dehumidified by passing it over chemicals that have an affinity for moisture. Usually in
so doing the moisture is condensed and gives up its latent heat, raising the dry bulb temperature of the air.
The air leaves drier and warmer. The wet bulb temperature may increase or decrease. Units employing
such chemicals are used in some comfort air conditioning installations but mainly for industrial air
conditioning. Since the leaving-air temperature is usually higher than wanted, it is necessary to add a
sensible cooling process to get the desired final air condition.

Example Problems:

1. Air at 24°C dry bulb and 15°C wet bulb temperatures enters a dehumidifier and leaves at 41 0C dry
bulb and 19°C wet bulb temperatures. How much moisture has been removed per kilogram of dry air?

Given and Required: Refer to the statement of the problem

Solution:

1. From the psychrometric chart at td1 = 24 0C , tw1 = 15 0C

W1= 0.0070 kg/kg

2. From the psychrometric chart at td2= 41°C and tw2 = 19°C,

W2= 0.0048 kg/kg

3. Moisture Removed,

Moisture removed = W1 - W2 = 0.0070 - 0.0048 = 0.0023 kg/kg

MIXING AIR

When air at one condition is mixed with air at another condition, the condition of the final mixture
can be shown on the psychrometric chart by a point on the line joining the points indicating the original
condition. The exact location of the final point will depend upon the masses of the original air quantities.

The following equations apply to the mixture of two For the second stream quantities of air.
Subscripts 1 and 2 refer to the two streams of air and subscript 3 refers to the mixture.

m = mass

h = enthalpy

W = humidity ratio

Td = dry bulb temperature

Tdp = dew point temperature

Example Problems:

1. One half cubic meter per second of air at 15°C dry bulb and 13°C wet bulb temperatures are mixed
with 0.20 m3 per second of air at 25°C dry bulb and l8°C wet bulb temperatures.
Determine:
(a) the dry bulb, wet bulb, and dew point temperatures of the mixture,
(b) the enthalpy of the mixture.

Given and Required: Refer to the statement of the problem

Solution:

1. From the psychrometric chart

a. For the first stream

td1 = 15 0C tw1 = 13 0C

W1 = 0.0085 kg/kg v1 = 0.825 m3/kg

b. For the second stream

2. Solving for the corresponding masses of air streams

a. air stream 1

b. air stream 2

c. Air stream 3 (mixture)

3. Now determining the properties of the air stream 3 (mixture)

a. its dry bulb temperature, td

b. humidity ratio, W

c. and the other properties can be determined using the psychrometri chart
4. For units awareness, Perform unit analysis.

5 Alternate Solution, Using pure Psychrometric Chart

COOLING-LOAD AIR QUANTITIES

The quantity of air circulated must be adequate to handle the cooling load as the air warms up to
room temperatures from its supply temperature. The lower the supply temperature, the less quantity which
must be circulated, but the minimum temperature is determined by the system arrangements, the necessity
of avoiding drafts and cold regions, the ceiling height, and the throw required.
SENSIBLE HEAT LOAD, Qs

Sensible Heat Load

Qs = m cp (t2 - t1) , cp of air at (P = C) = 1.0062 KJ/kg .0C

Qs = 1.0062 (m) (t2 - t1) , kW

LATENT HEAT LOAD, QL

Latent Heat Load

TOTAL HEAT LOAD, QT

Total Heat Load

QT  QS  QL
QT  m(h2  h1 )

SENSIBLE HEAT RATIO, SHR

QS Q
SHR   S
QS  QL QT

Example Problems:

1. An auditorium is to be maintained at a temperature of 25°C dry bulb and 19°C wet bulb temperatures.
The sensible heat load is 88 kW and 58 kg per hour or moisture must be removed. Air is supplied to the
auditorium at 18°C.
Determine
(a) the mass flow rate of supply air,
(b) the relative humidity, dew point, and wet bulb temperatures of the supply air,
(c) the sensible heat ratio.

Given and Required: Refer to the given problem statement

Solution:

1. For the mass flow rate of air, m

2. For relative humidity, dew point, and wet bulb temperatures of the supply air

3. For the latent heat load

4. For the SHR

VARIOUS METHODS OF HANDLING THE AIR SUPPLIED TO A CONDITIONED SPACE

(A) All Outside Air Supplied, No Recirculation

The use of all outside air with no recirculation is uneconomical unless the outside conditions are
close in temperatures and humidity to the inside conditions maintained. Recirculation is impracticable in
spaces where objectionable odors arise.

(B) Re-circulated and Outside Air Supplied

Recirculating part of the air is more economical than using all outside air, as the temperature of the
re-circulated air is usually more favorable than that of the outside air. In the ordinary conditioner, the air
must be cooled to a relatively low temperature to condense the surplus humidity, and when this
temperature is too low for comfortable delivery to the conditioned space, some reheating of the
dehumidified air is necessary.

C. Recirculated Air with External-Bypass System

Example Problem:

1. An air conditioned theater is to be maintained at 26.7°C db temperature and 50% relative humidity.
The calculated total sensible heat load in the theater is 126,240 kcal/h and latent heat load is 82,920
kcal/h. The air mixture at 28.9 0C db and 22 .2 0C wb temperature is cooled to 17.22°C db and 15°C wb
temperature by chilled water cooling coils and delivered as supply air to the theater. Calculate the tons of
refrigeration required.

Given and Required. Refer to the given problem

Solution:
 Answer

Excercises Problems. Solve each problem with complete solution.

1. Calculate the specific volume of an air-vapor mixture in cubic meters per kilogram of dry air at the
following conditions
t = 32°C, W = 0.016 kg/kg, and Pt == 100 kPa.

(answer: 0.899 cu m/kg)

2. Moist air at a dry bulb temperature of 25°C has a relative humidity of 50 per cent when the barometric
pressure is 101.4 kPa.
Determine :
(a) the partial pressures of water vapor and dry air,
(b) the dew point temperature,
(c) the specific humidity,
(d) the specific volume, and
(e) the enthalpy

(Ans. (a) 1.5855 kPa, 99.81 kPa; (b) 13.9°C, (c) 0.00988 kg/kg, (d) 0.857 cu m/kg, (e) 50.32 kJ/kg)

3. Air at a temperature of 33°C has a relative humidity of 50 per cent.

Determine:
(a) the wet bulb temperature,
(b) the dew point temperature,
(c) the humidity ratio,
 (d) the enthalpy, and
(e) the specific volume.

(Ans. (a) 24.5°C, (b) 21.4°C, (c) 0.016 kg/kg, (d) 74 kJ/kg, (e) 0.887 cu m/kg)

4. How much heat must be removed to cool 30 cu m per minute of air from 34°C dry bulb and 18°C dew
point to a wet bulb temperature of 19°C? What is the final relative humidity?

(Ans. 7.62 kJ/s, 83% )

5. How much heat and moisture must be added to 15 cu m per minute of air at 21°C dry bulb and 30 per
cent relative humidity to raise it to 37°C and 40 per cent relative humidity?

(Ans. 13.39 kJ/s, 0.00333 kg/s)

6. A stream of outdoor air is mixed with a stream of return air in an air conditioning system that operates
at 101 kPa pressure. The flow rate of outdoor air is 2 kg/s, and its condition is 35°C dry bulb temperature
and 25°C wet bulb temperature. The flow rate of return air is 3 kg/s, and its condition is 24°C and 50 per
cent relative humidity.
Determine :
(a) the enthalpy of the mixture,
(b) the humidity ratio of the mixture, and
(c) the dry bulb temperature of the mixture.

(Ans. (a) 59 kJ/kg, (b) 0.012 kg/kg, (c) 28.5°C )

7. In a certain space to be air conditioned the sensible and latent heat loads are 20.60 kW and 6.78 kW,
respectively. Outside air is at 33°C dry bulb and 24°C wet bulb temperatures. The space is to be
maintained at 25 0C with a relative humidity not exceeding 50 per cent. All outside air is supplied with
reheater. The conditioned air enters at 18°C.
Determine :
(a) the refrigeration load required,
(b) the capacity of the supply fan, and
(c) the heat supplied in the reheater

(Ans. (a) 106.6 kW, (b) 2.44 m3/s, (c) 16.06 kW)

8. How much heat is required to raise the temperature of 0.50 cu m per second of air from 19°C dry bulb
and 15°C wet bulb to 36°C? What is the final dew point temperature?

(Ans. 10.42 kJ/s, 12.3°C )