3 TB - Dehumidification and The Psychrometric Chart

Technical Bulletin 3
Dehumidification and the

Psychrometric Chart
I
R ELATIVE HUMIDITY
NTRODUCTION
The psychrometric chart has been well documented in a wide

variety of technical textbooks and journals. This technical
bulletin will not attempt to cover the chart in detail, but, will
highlight those features of the chart which apply to refrigerant
type dehumidification applications. It will define the terms
which form the nucleus of properly applying a dehumidifier.
Relative humidity is a misapplied term. It is often used in

place of absolute humidity. The key is the word relative. To
understand this concept, a law of nature must be Reviewed.
Air is a compressible fluid and its volume is represented by
the following equation:
v = K(T/P)
V = Volume
T = Temperature
P = Pressure
K = Constant
HE CHART
49
Figure 1 shows a typical psychrometric chart. Dry Bulb

temperatures are shown on the chart as vertical lines.
The horizontal lines represent Dew Point temperatures. Lines
representing Wet Bulb temperatures are the straight diagonal
lines sloping downward from left to right. The curve forming
the top edge of the chart is called the saturation curve.
Air in a condition that falls on any point along this curve is
totally saturated with moisture. Any additional moisture
added could not be absorbed and would remain in a liquid
state as condensation. The sweeping curved lines that
follow the saturation curve are relative humidity lines
expressed as percentages. These lines represent the
degree of volume displaced by moisture with respect to the
total air volume.
48
80
42
RH
80
%
RH
%
70
RH
id
110
100
90
ulb
120
tB
60
ti v
Hu
130
0%
Te
mp
80
era
RH
tur
es
70
RH
%
40
60
30
RH
50
45
40
13
40
12
20%
RH
35
30
30
25
H
10% R
20
Dew Point Temperatures

10
0
20
25
30
35
40
12.5 CU. FT.
45
50
55
60
13.0 CU. FT.
65
70
DRY BULB F
75
80
13.5 CU. FT.
85
90
95
100
14.0 CU. FT.
105
GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR
75
RH
%
90
70
33
32
31
65
it
140
Dry Bulb Temperatures
TIO
RA
TU
38
SA
37
AT
PY
36
AL
35
TH
EN
39
40
(B
41
TU
/L
B)
43
44
45
170
14
12
11
10
9
180
46
47
105
We
60
e
la
Re
100
150
30
29
19
15
95
ti o
rv
90
160
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
18
17
16
Figure 1
at
a
u5r0
Cu55
14.5 CU. FT.

85
34
As the air temperature increases, its total volume increases

and decreases on reduction of temperature. Pressure has the
opposite effect. As pressure increases volume decreases.
This is important to understand because water damage

occurs at an absolute humidity concentration regardless of its
relative humidity. This is known as the constant Dew Point
Temperature.
Water, however, is not compressible. Therefore given a

specific amount, it will always occupy the same amount of
volume.
S ENSIBLE AND LATENT HEATING AND COOLING

There are four types of energy changes when heat of moisture
is added or removed. Sensible heat occurs when heat is added
without the addition or reduction of moisture. Sensible cooling
is the reverse. Latent heat, also known as humidification, is the
addition of moisture without changing the dry bulb temperature.
Latent cooling or dehumidification is the removal of moisture.
Figure 3 shows how these are displayed on the chart.
49
Figure 2 illustrates how this applies to the psychrometric

chart. As moisture laden air is heated or cooled the air volume
changes but the moisture does not. Thus there is a change in
relative humidity, without a change in actual water content.
48
95
100
105
46
180
170
(B
N
80
42
40
TIO
39
RA
TU
75
38
140
130
35
60
%
90
RH
32
80
%
31
RH
%
70
65
88 GR.
90
25
RH
%
60
24
80
23
%
50
RH
21
%
40
20
18
RH
40
60
50
16
19
17
70
55
30
15
92F
RH
50
40
40
12
10
13
11
12
14
45
20%
RH
35
30
30
25
H
10% R
20
78F
60
70F
27
26
28
29
30
100
22
Figure 2
110
10
0
20
25
30
35
40
12.5 CU. FT.
45
50
55
60
13.0 CU. FT.
65
70
DRY BULB F
75
80
13.5 CU. FT.
85
90
95
100
14.0 CU. FT.
105
RH
80
120
70
33
34
EN
TH
AL
PY
AT
SA
40% RH
37
60% RH
150
36
80% RH
160
41
TU
/L
B)
43
44
45
70F
90
47
92F
78F
14.5 CU. FT.

85
TECHNICAL BULLETIN 3
Dehumidification and the Psychrometric Chart

Rarely will these occur as shown but will rather be a mixture of
them. A refrigerant dehumidification system is a combination of
sensible and latent cooling and sensible heating. First the
system cools the air to reduce the dry bulb temperature to the
dew point. Then latent cooling reduces the absolute humidity
and finally the air is reheated increasing its dry bulb temperature.
Figure 4 graphs this process.
By obtaining the starting and finishing grains per pound, the

amount of moisture to be removed can be calculated. The
amount of moisture to be removed is the difference between
these two values known as GR.
Figure 5 shows how a dehumidification system was sized.
The ambient design was 91F dry bulb and 78F wet bulb. The
desired indoor value was 80F dry bulb and 50% relative
humidity. The outside ambient has a moisture content of
124 grains and the indoor design has 78 grains. Thus the
required moisture removal rate is 124-78 = 46 grains per
pound of dry air.
D EHUMIDIFIER SIZING
49
To properly apply a dehumidification system, the amount

of moisture to be removed must be calculated. For most
applications the only information available is the dry bulb and
relative humidity or dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures. The
psychrometric chart is used to plot these two values by finding
their intersection and then following the horizontal line to the
right to determine the moisture content in grains per pound.
48
14.5 CU. FT.

90
95
100
105
180
46
47
85
(B
N
80
42
40
39
TIO
TU
75
SA
37
AT
PY
AL
35
TH
130
120
80
%
31
RH
32
110
100
RH
%
70
65
29
RH
%
60
25
27
26
28
90
60
24
80
23
%
50
RH
22
70
%
40
60
16
15
30
RH
50
40
40
12
10
13
11
12
14
45
20%
RH
35
30
30
25
H
10% R
20
RH
50
19
17
20
18
21
55
10
0
20
25
30
35
40
12.5 CU. FT.
45
50
55
60
13.0 CU. FT.
65
70
DRY BULB F
75
80
13.5 CU. FT.
85
90
95
100
14.0 CU. FT.
105
RH
90
70
33
34
EN
36
Sensible Heating
Sensible Cooling
Humidification
Dehumidification
140
30
A.
B.
C.
D.
150
38
RA
Figure 3
160
41
TU
/L
B)
43
44
45
170
49
Figure 4
48
14.5 CU. FT.

90
95
100
105
180
46
47
85
170
/L
TU
80
41
(B
N
40
IO
39
AT
UR
38
75
SA
T
37
AT
130
AL
36
PY
140
35
TH
150
120
RH
80
31
RH
32
110
65
70
%
RH
30
100
RH
28
90
60
27
26
QS
25
Entering Air
60
24
80
RH
23
50
22
70
40
16
15
RH
60
Leaving
Evaporator
Coil
45
14
12
30
Reheated
Air (Supply)
RH
WA
GR
WB
50
40
40
13
11
12
10
9
50
19
17
20
18
21
55
90
70
33
34
EN
QL
160
42
B)
43
44
45
Total Cooling A-B

Sensible Cooling C-B
Latent Cooling A-C
Specific Humidity A (room air)
Specific Humidity C (supply air)
Total Temperature Rise B-D
WA-WB
29
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
QT
QT
QS
QL
WA
WB
T
GR
20%
RH
35
30
30
25
10% RH
20
10
0
20
25
30
35
40
50
45
55
60
65
75
70
DRY BULB F
13.0 CU. FT.
80
85
90
95
100
105
14.0 CU. FT.
13.5 CU. FT.
49
12.5 CU. FT.
48
14.5 CU. FT.

90
95
100
105
47
85
180
46
Figure 5
80
40
(B
N
39
TIO
37
75
38
RA
TU
SA
AT
140
130
WA
91F DB/78F WB
35
36
PY
AL
TH
120
RH
80
31
RH
32
110
RH
70
%
65
90
RH
%
60
25
27
26
28
29
30
100
60
24
23
50
50
H
80
80F DB
22
70
40
RH
60
50
16
19
17
20
18
21
55
15
0%
RH
WB
50
40
40
13
12
GR
45
14
12
11
10
9
%
90
70
33
34
EN
Constant
Total Air Volume
WA-WB
7000 GR/LB Air
=
=
=
=
150
20%
RH
35
30
30
25
10% RH
20
4.5
CFM
GR
7000
41
TU
LBS/HR = 4.5 x CFM x GR

7000
160
42
/L
B)
43
44
45
170
10
0
20
25
30
35
40
12.5 CU. FT.
45
50
55
60
13.0 CU. FT.
65
70
DRY BULB F
75
80
85
90
13.5 CU. FT.
95
100
105
14.0 CU. FT.
8300 West Sleske Court

Milwaukee, WI 53223
(414) 357-7400
FAX: (414) 357-8501
103 09/97

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3 TB - Dehumidification and The Psychrometric Chart

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Technical Bulletin 3

Dehumidification and the

The psychrometric chart has been well documented in a wide

Relative humidity is a misapplied term. It is often used in

Figure 1 shows a typical psychrometric chart. Dry Bulb

Dew Point Temperatures

13.5 CU. FT.

14.0 CU. FT.

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

Dry Bulb Temperatures

14.5 CU. FT.

As the air temperature increases, its total volume increases

This is important to understand because water damage

Water, however, is not compressible. Therefore given a

S ENSIBLE AND LATENT HEATING AND COOLING

Figure 2 illustrates how this applies to the psychrometric

13.5 CU. FT.

14.0 CU. FT.

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

14.5 CU. FT.

Dehumidification and the Psychrometric Chart

By obtaining the starting and finishing grains per pound, the

To properly apply a dehumidification system, the amount

14.5 CU. FT.

13.5 CU. FT.

14.0 CU. FT.

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

14.5 CU. FT.

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

Total Cooling A-B

13.0 CU. FT.

14.0 CU. FT.

13.5 CU. FT.

12.5 CU. FT.

14.5 CU. FT.

GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

LBS/HR = 4.5 x CFM x GR

13.5 CU. FT.

14.0 CU. FT.

8300 West Sleske Court

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