Experiment No.

3
DETERMINATION OF AIR PROPERTIES
Course Code: MEP510L2
Course Title: ME LAB 3 ( THERMAL LAB. 2)
Section: ME51FA1
Student: TAGUIBAO, Yvan Rae V.

Program: BSME
Date Performed: November, 11, 2014
Date Submitted: November 18, 2014
Instructor: Engr. Benjamin Tiglao

1. Objective:
The activity aims to introduce the properties of air.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Explain the properties of air
2.2. Determine the properties of air using the psychrometric chart
2.3 Develop professional work ethics, including precision, neatness, safety and ability to follow instruction.

3. Discussion:
Atmospheric air has a volumetric composition of 20.99 % oxygen, 78.03 % nitrogen, somewhat
less than 1 % argon, with small quantities of several inert gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide,
helium, hydrogen, and neon. For most engineering calculations, it is usually accurate enough to include all
inert gases as nitrogen and to use the analysis: 21 % oxygen and 79 % atmospheric nitrogen by volume.
Thus, in 100 moles of air, there are approximately 21 moles of O 2 and 79 moles of N2, or
79

moles N2
= 3.76

21

moles O2
or
ft3 N2

3.76
ft3 O2
The approximate gravimetric composition of air is 23.1 % O 2, 76.9 % N2, or there are 76.9 / 23.1 = 3.32 lb
N2 / lb O2.

Sling Psychrometer

Aneroid Barometer

4. Materials and Equipment:

Sling Psychrometer
Barometer
Cotton/Cloth
Tap Water
Steam Table
Stop watch

5. Procedure:
1. Using the barometer, determine the atmospheric pressure by placing the barometer on the
floor. Locations to conduct this experiment are as required by the manual or prescribed by your
instructor. Record each reading after 5 minutes.
2. Cover the bulb of one of the thermometers in the sling psychrometer with wet cloth or cotton (if
not permanently attached).
3. Rotate the sling psychrometer horizontal to the ground for five minutes.
4. Record the dry bulb and wet bulb temperature reading.
5. Plot the results on a Psychrometric Chart.
USEFUL FORMULAS:
a.) V =

Ra ( Tdb + 273 )
Patm - Pv

where:
Pv = P v -

(Patm - Pv ) (Tdb - Twb )

1500 - 1.44 Twb

Pw = Psat @ Twb
b.) % RH =

Pv
Pvs

where: Pvs = Psat @ Tdb

h = Cpa (Tdb 0) + whg
hg = hg @ Tdb

c.)

W =

0.622 Pv
Patm Pv

where:
= specific volume; m3/kg
= gas constant of air; KJ/kg-k
= dry bulb temperature; C
= atmospheric pressure
= vapor pressure
= pressure @ wet bulb temperature
= wet bulb temperature
= Relative Humidity
= saturated vapor pressure
= enthalpy
= Humidity ratio
= enthalpy @ saturated vapor

V
Ra
Tdb
Patm
Pv
Pw
Twb
RH
Pvs
h
w
hg

6. Data and Results:

Trial / Location
Atmospheric
Pressure
Wet Bulb
Temperature
Dry Bulb
Temperature
% Relative
Humidity
Humidity
Ratio
Enthalpy
(KJ/kg Dry Air)
Vapor
Pressure

1
Ice Plant
(A -102)

2
Boiler Room
(A -101)

3
Cooling Tower
1

4
Cooling Tower
2

5
5th Floor

101.325 kPa

101.325 kPa

101.325 kPa

101.325 kPa

101.325 kPa

24.5C

25C

24C

24.5C

24.5C

29C

29C

28C

28C

29C

69.24%

73.37%

71.83%

75.15%

69.24%

0.0175 kgv /
kgda

0.0183 kgv /
kgda

0.0171 kgv /
kgda

0.0179 kgv /
kgda

0.0175 kgv /
kgda

74 kJ / kg

75.92 kJ / kg

71.82 kJ / kg

73.86 kJ / kg

74 kJ / kg

2.7752 kPa

2.9008 kPa

2.7166 kPa

2.8422 kPa

2.7752 kPa

Average Results:
Atmospheric Pressure:

101.325 kPa

Wet Bulb Temperature:

24.4 C

Dry Bulb Temperature:

28.6 C

% Relative Humidity:

72.46%

Humidity Ratio:

0.01766 kgv / kgda

Enthalpy:

73.92 kJ / kg

Vapor Pressure:

2.802 kPa

7. Computation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data:

For Ice Plant A 102
Given:
Patm =101.325 kPa
T wb=24.5 C
T db=29 C
Required:
RH=?
hda=?
SH = ?
Pv =?
Solution:
For Vapor Pressure (Pv):
P
( atmPwb )(T dbT wb )
15001.44 T wb

P v =Pwb

; Pwb @24.5 =3.077 kPa

By Interpolation:
Temperature
24 C
24.5 C
25 C

Pressure
0.002985 mPa
Pwb
0.003169 mPa

Pwb =0.003077 mPa=3.077 kPa

Pv =3.077 kPa

(101.325 kPa3.077 kPa)(29 C24.5 )

15001.44 (24.5 )

Pv =2.7752 kPa
For Relative Humidity (RH); Ps @ dry bulb temp. 29 C = 4.008 kPa
P
RH = v 100
Ps

RH =

2.7752 kPa
100
4.008 kPa

RH =69.24

For Humidity Ratio (W):

0.622 ( Pv )
W=
Pb Pv

W=

0.622 ( 2.7752 kPa )

101.325 kPa2.7752kPa

W =0.0175

kgv
kg da

For Enthalpy (h):

h=C pa ( t db 0 ) +W h g

h g @ 29 C=2554.5

h= 1.0062

h=74

kgv
kga

kg
KJ
KJ
(29 C ) + 0.0175 v 2554.5
kgaK
kga
kg

KJ
kg

For Boiler Room A 101

Given:
Patm =101.325 kPa
T wb=25 C
T db=29 C
Required:
RH=?
hda=?
SH = ?
Pv =?
Solution:
For Vapor Pressure (Pv):

)(

P
( atmPwb )(T dbT wb )
15001.44 T wb

P v =Pwb
Pwb =Psat @T wb
Pwb =0.003169 mPa=3.169 kPa

Pv =3.169 kPa

(101.325 kPa3.169 kPa)(29 C25)

15001.44 (25)

Pv =2.9008 kPa
For Relative Humidity (RH); Ps @ dry bulb temp. 29 C = 4.008 kPa
P
RH = v 100
Ps

RH =

2.9008 kPa
100
4.008 kPa

RH =72.37
For Humidity Ratio (W):
0.622 ( Pv )
W=
Pb Pv

W=

0.622 ( 2.9008 kPa )

101.325 kPa2.9008 kPa

W =0.0183

kgv
kg da

For Enthalpy (h):

h=C pa ( t db 0 ) +W h g

h g @ 29 C=2554.5

h= 1.0062

h=75.92

kgv
kga

kg
KJ
KJ
(29 C ) + 0.0183 v 2554.5
kgaK
kga
kg

KJ
kg

For Cooling Tower 1

Given:
Patm =101.325 kPa
T wb=24 C
T db=28 C
Required:
RH=?
hda=?
SH = ?
Pv =?
Solution:
For Vapor Pressure (Pv):
P
( atmPwb )(T dbT wb )
15001.44 T wb

P v =Pwb
Pwb =Psat @T wb
Pwb =0.002985 mPa=2.985 kPa

)(

Pv =2.985 kPa

(101.325 kPa2.985 kPa)(28 C24 )

15001.44 (24 )

Pv =2.7166 kPa
For Relative Humidity (RH); Ps @ dry bulb temp. 28 C = 3.782 kPa
P
RH = v 100
Ps

RH =

2.7166 kPa
100
3.782kPa

RH =71.83

For Humidity Ratio (W):

0.622 ( Pv )
W=
Pb Pv

W=

0.622 ( 2.7166 kPa )

101.325 kPa2.7166 kPa

W =0.0171

kg v
kg da

For Enthalpy (h):

h=C pa ( t db 0 ) +W h g

h g @ 28 C=2552.6

h= 1.0062

kg v
kga

kg
KJ
KJ
(28 C ) + 0.0171 v 2552.6
kgaK
kg a
kg

)(

h=71.82

KJ
kg

For Cooling Tower 2

Given:
Patm =101.325 kPa
T wb=24.5 C
T db=28 C
Required:
RH=?
hda=?
SH = ?
Pv =?
Solution:
For Vapor Pressure (Pv):
P
( atmPwb )(T dbT wb )
15001.44 T wb

P v =Pwb

Pwb =Psat @T wb
By Interpolation:
Temperature
24 C
24.5 C
25 C

Pressure
0.002985 mPa
Pwb
0.003169 mPa

Pwb =0.003077 mPa=3.077 kPa

Pv =3.077 kPa

(101.325 kPa3.077 kPa)(28 C24.5 )

15001.44 (24.5 )

Pv =2.8422 kPa
For Relative Humidity (RH); Ps @ dry bulb temp. 28 C = 3.782 kPa
P
RH = v 100
Ps

RH =

2.8422 kPa
100
3.782 kPa

RH =75.15
For Humidity Ratio (W):
0.622 ( Pv )
W=
Pb Pv

W=

0.622 ( 2.8422 kPa )

101.325 kPa2.8422kPa

W =0.0179

kgv
kg da

For Enthalpy (h):

h=C pa ( t db 0 ) +W h g

h g @ 28 C=2552.6

h= 1.0062

h=73.86

kg
KJ
KJ
(28 C ) + 0.0179 v 2552.6
kgaK
kga
kg

KJ
kg

For 5th Floor

Given:

kg v
kga

)(

Patm =101.325 kPa

T wb=24.5 C
T db=29 C
Required:
RH=?
hda=?
SH = ?
Pv =?
Solution:
For Vapor Pressure (Pv):
P
( atmPwb )(T dbT wb )
15001.44 T wb

P v =Pwb
By Interpolation:
Temperature
24 C
24.5 C
25 C

; Pwb @24.5 =3.077 kPa

Pressure
0.002985 mPa
Pwb
0.003169 mPa

Pwb =0.003077 mPa=3.077 kPa

Pv =3.077 kPa

(101.325 kPa3.077 kPa)(29 C24.5 )

15001.44 (24.5 )

Pv =2.7752 kPa
For Relative Humidity (RH); Ps @ dry bulb temp. 29 C = 4.008 kPa
P
RH = v 100
Ps

2.7752 kPa
100
4.008 kPa

RH =

RH =69.24
For Humidity Ratio (W):
0.622 ( Pv )
W=
Pb Pv

W=

0.622 ( 2.7752 kPa )

101.325 kPa2.7752kPa

W =0.0175

kgv
kg da

For Enthalpy (h):

h=C pa ( t db 0 ) +W h g

h g @ 29 C=2554.5

h= 1.0062

h=74

kgv
kga

kg
KJ
KJ
(29 C ) + 0.0175 v 2554.5
kgaK
kga
kg

KJ
kg

For Mean of Atmospheric Pressure

Given:
Trial 1 / Ice plant (A - 102):
101.325 kPa
Trial 2 / Boiler Room (A - 101): 101.325 kPa
Trial 3 / Cooling Tower 1:
101.325 kPa
Trial 4 / Cooling Tower 2:
101.325 kPa
th
Trial 5 / 5 floor:
101.325 kPa
Required:
M atm =?

)(

Solution:
M atm =

T 1+ T 2 +T 3+ T 4 +T 5
5

M atm =

101.325 kPa+101.325 kPa+101.325 kPa+101.325 kPa+101.325 kPa

5

M atm =101.325 kPa

For Mean of Wet bulb Temperature

Given:
Trial 1 / Ice plant (A - 102):
24.5C
Trial 2 / Boiler Room (A - 101): 25C
Trial 3 / Cooling Tower 1:
24C
Trial 4 / Cooling Tower 2:
24.5C
th
Trial 5 / 5 floor:
24.5C
Required:
M wb =?
Solution:
M wb =

T 1+ T 2 +T 3+T 4 +T 5
5

M wb =

24.5 +25 + 24 +24.5 +24.5

5

M wb =24.4

For Mean of Dry bulb Temperature

Given:

Trial 1 / Ice plant (A - 102):

Trial 2 / Boiler Room (A - 101):
Trial 3 / Cooling Tower 1:
Trial 4 / Cooling Tower 2:
Trial 5 / 5th floor:
Required:
M db=?

29C
29C
28C
28C
29C

Solution:
M db=

T 1 +T 2+T 3 +T 4 +T 5
5

M db=

29+ 29 +28 +28 +29

5

M db=28.6

For Mean of Relative Humidity

Given:
Trial 1 / Ice plant (A - 102):
69.24%
Trial 2 / Boiler Room (A - 101): 73.37%
Trial 3 / Cooling Tower 1:
71.83%
Trial 4 / Cooling Tower 2:
75.15%
Trial 5 / 5th floor:
69.24%
Required:
M RH =?
Solution:
M RH =

T 1 +T 2+ T 3 +T 4 +T 5
5

M RH =

69.24 +73.37 +71.83 +75.15 +69.24

5

M RH =72.46
For Mean of Humidity Ratio
Given:
Trial 1 / Ice plant (A - 102):
Trial 2 / Boiler Room (A - 101):
Trial 3 / Cooling Tower 1:
Trial 4 / Cooling Tower 2:
Trial 5 / 5th floor:
Required:
M W =?

0.0175 kg v / kgda
0.0183 kg v / kgda
0.0171 kg v / kgda
0.0179 kg v / kgda
0.0175 kgv / kgda

Solution:
M W=

T 1 +T 2+ T 3 +T 4 +T 5
5

0.0175
M W=

kg v
kg
kg
kg
kg
+ 0.0183 v +0.0171 v + 0.0179 v +0.0175 v
kgda
kg da
kgda
kg da
kgda
5

M W =0.01766

kg v
kg da

For Mean of Enthaply

Given:
Trial 1 / Ice plant (A - 102):
Trial 2 / Boiler Room (A - 101):
Trial 3 / Cooling Tower 1:
Trial 4 / Cooling Tower 2:
Trial 5 / 5th floor:
Required:
M h=?
Solution:

74 kJ / kg
75.92 kJ / kg
71.82 kJ / kg
73.86 kJ / kg
74 kJ / kg

M h=

T 1 +T 2+T 3 +T 4 +T 5
5

74
M h=

kJ
kJ
kJ
kJ
kJ
+75.92 +71.82 +73.86 +74
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
5

M h=73.92

kJ
kg

For Mean of Vapor Pressure

Given:
Trial 1 / Ice plant (A - 102):
Trial 2 / Boiler Room (A - 101):
Trial 3 / Cooling Tower 1:
Trial 4 / Cooling Tower 2:
Trial 5 / 5th floor:
Required:
M Pv =?

2.7752 kPa
2.9008 kPa
2.7166 kPa
2.8422 kPa
2.7752 kPa

Solution:
M Pv =

T 1 +T 2+T 3 +T 4 +T 5
5

M Pv =

2.7752 kPa+ 2.9008 kPa+ 2.7166 kPa+2.8422 kPa+2.7752 kPa

5

M Pv =2.802 kPa

35
30
25
20
Dry bulb Temperature
Pressure

15
10
5
0
Trial 1

Trial 2

For Trial 1 / Ice Plant (A - 102)

Trial 3

Trial 4

Trial 5

For Trial 2 / Boiler Room (A - 101)

For Trial 3 / Cooling Tower 1

For Trial 4 / Cooling Tower 2

For Trial 5 / 5th floor

Analysis and Interpretation of Data:

Based on the data gathered from the experiment, using the above formula of the properties of air, the
values of temperatures and pressures depends on the assigned location. Wet bulb temperatures are low
because its already fall and winter is just around the corner.
Atmospheric pressure did not change in trial 3 and trial 5 which are different elevation. Normally
atmospheric pressure drops as you go up in higher places. Pressure drops at 265 millibars at every 10 km
elevation, so the atmospheric pressure in trial 3 and trial 5 remains the same.

8. Conclusion and Recommendation:

By performing this experiment it helps me understand more about the properties of air. Air is composed
of dry air and water vapor. Dry air is non-condensable while water vapor is the amount of space in air that
can hold water. It is non-condensable and it varies depends of the temperature and pressure of the
surrounding.
In determining the properties of air I used the empirical formulas and steam table to get the values of
saturation pressures and enthalpies. I also try to use the Psychrometric chart, the datas I get from the chart
and the computed datas has a little difference. But I think the results in using the empirical formulas are
much more accurate than the Psychrometric chart in determining the properties of air.
In performing the experiment always follow the instructions carefully and make sure the equipment and
materials to be used are in good condition. In our case we used two sling psychrometers, and then
compare both of their readings. I think the other one is faulty because the reading in the wet bulb and the
dry bulb is too high compared to the other one, plus we performed the experiment during night time and its
already fall so the temperature is expected to be lower.

9. Assessment Rubric:
T I P - V PAA 0 5 4 D
Revision Status/Date:0/2009 September 09

CRITERIA

TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

RUBRIC FOR LABORATORY PERFORMANCE
BEGINNER
ACCEPTABLE
PROFICIENT
1
2
3

Laboratory Skills
Manipulative Members do not
Skills
demonstrate needed
skills.
Experimental Members are unable to
Set-up
set-up the materials.
Process
Skills

Members do not
demonstrate targeted
process skills.

Safety
Precautions

Members do not follow

safety precautions.

Work Habits
Time
Members do not finish
Management/ on time with incomplete

Members occasionally
demonstrate needed
skills.
Members are able to
set-up the materials
with supervision.
Members occasionally
demonstrate targeted
process skills.

Members always
demonstrate needed
skills.
Members are able to
set-up the material with
minimum supervision.
Members always
demonstrate targeted
process skills.

Members follow safety Members follow safety

precautions most of the precautions at all
time.
times.
Members finish on time
with incomplete data.

Members finish ahead

of time with complete

SCORE

Conduct of
Experiment
Cooperative
and
Teamwork

data.

data and time to revise

data.
Members do not know
Members have defined Members are on tasks
their tasks and have no responsibilities most of and have
defined responsibilities. the time. Group
responsibilities at all
Group conflicts have to conflicts are
times. Group conflicts
be settled by the
cooperatively managed are cooperatively
teacher.
most of the time.
managed at all times.
Neatness and Messy workplace during Clean and orderly
Clean and orderly
Orderliness
and after the
workplace with
workplace at all times
experiment.
occasional mess during during and after the
and after the
experiment.
experiment.
Ability to do
Members require
Members require
Members do not need
independent supervision by the
occasional supervision to be supervised by the
work
teacher.
by the teacher.
teacher.
Other Comments/Observations:

TOTAL SCORE

RATING=
x 100%