Erbil polytechnic engineering college

mechanic and energy

Cooling and de-humidification process

Experiment Number: .3
Air conditi oning laboratory

Student name: Hemn Abdullah salih 

 Third Stage 
Group (A)
Engineer :ms Byan
Objective
The objectives of this experiment are:
• To study the psychrometric chart process of moist air.
• To study and investigate the Cooling and de-humidification process
• To estimate the average heat transfer from moist air.

Introduction
moist air can be divided into two components. They are the moisture part and the
dry air part. The temperature of air that is measured when the bulb of a
thermometer is dry is called as the dry bulb temperature. The quantity of moisture
available in one kilogram of dry air is called as the specific humidity of the air.
Further, the quality of air for air conditioning applications is indicated by two
parameters namely the dry bulb temperature and relative humidity. Let us
understand the cooling and dehumidification process in more details. When the air
comes in contact with the cooling coil that is maintained at the temperature below
its dew point temperature, its DB temperature starts reducing. The process of
cooling continues and at some point, it reaches the value of dew point temperature
of the air. At this point the water vapor with in the air starts getting converted into
the dew particles due to which the dew is formed on the surface of the cooling and
the moisture content of the air reduces thereby reducing its humidity level. Thus,
when the air is cooled below its dew point temperature, there is cooling as well as
dehumidification of air The cooling and dehumidification process is most widely used
air conditioning application. Itis used in all types of windows, split, packaged and
central air conditioning systems for producing the comfort conditions inside the
space to be cooled. In the window and split air conditioners the evaporator coil or
cooling coil is maintained at temperature lower than the dew point temperature of
the room air or the atmospheric air by the cool refrigerant passing through it. When
the room air passes over this coil its DB temperature reduces and at the same time
moisture is also removed since the air is cooled below its DP temperature. The dew
formed on the cooling coil is removed by small tubing. In the central air conditioning
systems, the cooling coil is cooled by the refrigerant or the chilled water. When the
room air passes over this coil, it gets cooled and dehumidified. Human comfort
requires that both the parameters are maintained. Different methods are adopted
for maintaining these conditions in practice. Cooling is normally done by using a
refrigeration system evaporator coil either directly or with the help of an
intermediate fluid. De-humidification is achieved by the use of cooling coils at
temperatures below the dew point temperature of the air sample. Heating is done
by using heating coils with electric heaters or coils heated with steam or hot water.
Humidification is done by spraying hot water or steam into the stream of air. The
Hilton Air-conditioning experimental unit uses the above methods to change the
conditions of air. The psychrometric properties like dry bulb temperature, wet bulb
temperature, dew point temperature, relative humidity and humidity ratio are
defined. The purpose of the experiment is to apply the air conditioning theory to the
air as it goes through the air conditioning unit. The measured air properties are
compared with the properties obtained from the psychrometric chart. It is also
hoped that the student gets familiar, through this experiment, with some air
conditioning processes. In the present experiment we will deal with cooling below
the dew point, resulting in a drop in dry-bulb temperature and a reduction in the
level of humidity. Cooling is typically done by using a refrigeration system evaporator
coil directly or with an intermediate fluid’s help. De-humidification is achieved by
using cooling coils at temperatures below the dew point temperature of the air
sample:
The apparatus is shown in figure (1).

Figure (1): Schematic of (ET 620 Real Air-conditioning and Ventilation System).
Operating Instructions and Procedure
Start up the test rig as recommended in the rig’s manual. Stat-up is followed by
running the fan at a certain speed at a uniform rate. The air carries the humidity,
which can be measured using the psychrometric chart. Set the equipment to supply
a given quantity of fresh air, which can vary for getting different readings. The vapor-
compression system (the cooling equipment) is used for cooling/de-humidification.
The de-humidification occurs due to moisture condensation on the evaporator tubes
when the air reaches the dew point temperature. Some time is given until steady
conditions are obtained, as observed by the steadiness of various temperature
readings. The system reaches a steady state usually takes about 25-35 minutes.
Follow the on-screen menus and store the readings of all air temperature and
relative humidity.

The following measurements are taken:

• Read the dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity at the air inlet and outlet along the air
path.
• Measure air velocity and cross-sectional area of the duct.
• Measure the mass of condensation and the time for condensation.

Theory and calculation:

The cooling and de-humidification process is generally used in summer to cool and dehumidify the
air. The air will be cooled when it passes through the cooling coil, and the air is dehumidified when
the surface temperature of the cooling coil is lower than the dew point temperature of the air. That
is called condensation. This experiment will be conducted on the (ET 620 Real Air-conditioning and
Ventilation System). The rig has a refrigeration system for cooling and dehumidifying air through a
cooling coil.
Heat and mass balance
Dry air mass balance

mair A=m air B

Water mass balance

ṁv A=ṁv B+ ṁw

ṁair A w A =ṁair B w B + ṁw

Heat balance

ṁa h A =Q̇out + ṁa hB + ṁw hw

Q̇out =ṁa ( h A−hB ) −ṁ w hw

1. Air mass flow rate:

V̇
ṁa=
v
ṁa=¿mass flow rate of air, (kg/s)

V̇ =¿volume flow rate of air, (𝑚3 /𝑠)

𝑣=specific volume of air at inlet temperature (𝑚3 /𝑘𝑔)

Duct area

2. Bypass factor of the cooling coil

T B −T C
T A −T C
 3. Total cooling load in coil
Q̇cooling coil =ṁa ( h A −h B ) −ṁw h w

ṁw = ṁ f T ADP enthalpy of water at T ADP of coil

4. Amount of water condensate by cooling coil

ṁw = ṁa ( W A −W B )

Reading table:
Inlet air temperature before cooling coil TA 35℃
A
Inlet air relative humidity before cooling coil RH A 30%
Air temperature after cooling coil TB 15 ℃
B
Air relative humidity after cooling coil RH B 75%
Apparatus dew point temperature ADP 10℃
Amount of water condensate 0.6 kg during 30 minutes
Duct dimension (0.4 m*0.2 m)
Inlet air velocity 4 m/s

Calculation:
kg kg kJ kJ
W A =0.0105 ;W B =0.00 8 ;h A =62.5 ; hB =36.4 ; v =0.888
kg kg kg kg

V̇ 0.4 × 0.2× 4 kg
 ṁa= v = 0.888
=0.36 036036
s

kg
 ṁw = ṁa ( W A −W B )=0.36 ( 0.0105−0.00 8 )=0.00 09009009 s

T B−T C 15−10
 BF= = =0.2=20 %
T A−T C 35−10

 Q̇cooling coil =ṁa ( h A −h B ) −ṁ w h w =0.36 ( 62.5−36.4 )=9.405405396 kW

Discussion:
1. Draw the process & show all points on the psychrometric chart.
2. Find the bypass factor of the cooling coil (BF).
3. Find the total cooling load of the coil.
4. Find the amount of water condensate.
5. Discuss the results
 Answers:
The bypass factor is as expected didn’t exceed 0.2 or 20 precent which also mean we have maximum
amount of losses in the air that didn’t get cooled and the cooling load is 9.9 kW almost 10kW that means
for 10 hour the cost of electricity is 1.3$ given that the cost is 0.013$ per kW/h. And the amount of
water condensation is a gram per second which means for an hour 3.6 kg of water is will be produced

Errors:
1. By pass factor which we already discussed.
2. And the condenser and compressor are both inside which should be outside not using the
fresh air for the refrigerant cycle will lower the efficiency of both.
3. Faulty sensor might also impact the result greatly, although that might not be the case here
but they might be a little old
4. The quality of the refrigerant is 98 precent R22 because of the low cost which impact the
cooling coil capacity
5. Also, eye observation on the psychometric might not be accurate.