HVAC SYSTEMS AND

DESIGNS
PSYCHROMETRY OF AIR
CONDITIONING
PROCESSES – Mixing
Process
TOPIC OBJECTIVES
⚫ Solution to Assignment # 6
⚫ Board work problem will be Assignment # 7
o Total heat process
⚫ Sensible Heat Factor
⚫ Quiz # 2 coverage
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Total Heat
Process

⚫ Consider a change in the state of air along the path

AC as shown in Fig. 6. This involves both a change
in temperature as well as in the humidity ratio.
⚫ The change in temperature causes a sensible heat
load given by
QS = mₐ (hB – hA )
QS = mₐ CP (tC – tA ) (15.12)
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Total Heat
Process
hC

hB
C ωC

hA

Δω

ω
ωA
A B

Δt
tA t tC

Fig. 6 Total heat process

BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Total Heat
Process

⚫ The change in the humidity ration causes a moisture

transfer given by
G = mₐ (ωC – ωA )
and a latent heat load given by
QL = mₐ (hC – hB )
Q = mₐ hfg₀ (ωC – ωA ) (15.13)
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Total Heat
Process

⚫ Adding equations (15.12) and (15.13) we obtain an

expression for total heat load as
Q= QS + QL
Q= mₐ (hC – hA ) (15.14a)
Q= mₐ [C (tC – tA ) + hfg₀ (ωC – ωA ) (15.14b)
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Total Heat
Process

⚫ Again, expressing the mass flow rate in cmm, we

get

(cmm)(1.2)
Q = ----------------- Δh
60

Q = 0.02(cmm) Δh, (15.15a)

which is the same as

Q= (cmm)(0.0204Δt + 50Δω), kW (15.15b)
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

⚫ The ratio of the sensible heat transfer to the total

heat transfer is termed as the sensible heat factor.
Thus
QS QS
SHF = ------------ = -----
QL + QS Q

⚫ Substituting from Eqs. (8) and (15), we obtain

hB – hA hB – hA
SHF = ----------------------------- = -----------
(hB – hA ) + (hC – hB ) hC – hA
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

0.0204Δt 0.0204Δt
SHF = ------------------------ = ---------------- (16)
0.0204Δt + 50Δω 0.02Δh

⚫ It may be observed from Fig.6 that point B divides the

total enthalpy change (hC – hA ) in the ratio of SHF and 1
– SHF.
⚫ The sensible heat transfer taking place along AB is
proportional to SHF and the latent heat transfer along
BC is proportional to 1 – SHF.
⚫ The process line AC is called the sensible heat factor
line or process or condition line.
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)
hC

hB
C ωC

ω
Δω
hA

θ
ωA
A B

Δt

tA tC
t
Fig. 6 Total heat process
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)
⚫ It is obvious that a sensible heat factor of unity
corresponds to no latent heat transfer and the SHF
line is horizontal on the psychrometric chart.
⚫ However, a zero SHF line is vertical on the
psychrometric chart and implies no sensible heat
transfer.
⚫ An SHF of 0.75 to 0.8 is quite common in air
conditioning practice in a normal dry climate.
⚫ A lower value of SHF, such as 0.65, implies a high
latent heat load which is quite common in a humid
climate.
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

⚫ Simplifying Eq.16, we have

1 1
SHF = -------------------- = ------------- (17)
Δω 1 + tan θ
1 + 2451 ------
Δt
Δω
where tanθ = -----
Δt
1 1
= -------- ------- – 1 (18)
2451 SHF
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

⚫ We see that θ is the slope of the SHF line AC on the

psychrometric chart, which is purely a function of
SHF.
⚫ Thus, when a process line is to be drawn on the
psychrometric chart, the following two things have to
be known:
I. Initial state of air
II. Sensible heat factor
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

⚫ The following are the ways in which the SHF line

can be drawn on the psychrometric chart with this
data:
a) In the first method, we can calculate tan θ. Then
move vertically a certain distance Δω from the
initial state, and then horizontally a distance
Δt = (Δω) (tan θ)
Finally, join the point obtained to the initial state
point. However, this method is prone to grave
error since Δω is numerically small, and tan θ
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

a) In the first method, we can calculate tan θ. Then

move vertically a certain distance Δω from the
initial state, and then horizontally a distance
Δt = (Δω) (tan θ)
Finally, join the point obtained to the initial state
point. However, this method is prone to grave
error since Δω is numerically small, and tan θ
tends to a value close to zero. The method is
given here only to illustrate the principle involved.
It is never used.
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

b) In the second method, move vertically a certain

enthalpy change ΔhL .This is proportional to the
latent heat change. Then move horizontally
equivalent to the sensible heat change in terms
of enthalpy given by

SHF
ΔhS = (ΔhL ) ------------
1 – SHF
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

c) The third method uses a nomographic method

with some charts in which a scale is provided for
SHF. There is also a reference point provided
which is joined to the appropriate SHF on the
scale. Then a line from the initial state point can
be drawn parallel to the above line which will
give the required SHF line.
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

d) The fourth and the best method is by calculation.

In the case of cooling and dehumidification of air,
we have from Eq. (16)

0.0204(tC – tADP )
----------------------------------------------- = SHF
0.0204(tC – tADP ) + 50(ωC – ωADP )

where, tC , ωC are the conditions at C, and tADP is

the apparatus due point temperature.
It is the temperature at S where the SHF line CA
cuts the saturation curve when extended.
BASIC PROCESSES IN A/C – Sensible
Heat Factor (SHF)

This equation can be solved by iteration. Once

tS = tADP is found, the point on saturation curve
can be joined to the initial state point C to give
the SHF line. Or, in general, take any value of tD
on the line and find ωD by iteration.
PSYCHROMETRIC
PROCESSES IN AIR
CONDITIONING
EQUIPMENT
INTRODUCTION

⚫ Eight basic psychrometric processes have been

discussed.
⚫ However, all of them cannot be achieved in practice by
the use of known air conditioning equipment.
⚫ Even if a certain process can be carried out in a
particular range, it may not be possible to achieve it in
the complete range.
⚫ The limitations of practical psychrometric processes and
the types of equipment used for them will now be
discussed.
INTRODUCTION

⚫ But first, bypass factor, which is a vital parameter

signifying the performance of air conditioning equipment
will be discussed.
BYPASS FACTOR

⚫ Some manufacturers use a significant method of

presenting coil performance.
⚫ The bypass factor is based on the concept that as air
passes through a coil, a portion is cooled to the surface
temperature of the coil and the rest flows through the coil
unaffected. The air subsequently mixes.
⚫ The bypass factor is the X term in the following
equations:
t₂ = t₁(X) + tS (1 – X) (1)
and ω₂ = ω₁(X) + ωS (1 – X) (2)
BYPASS FACTOR

where subscript 1 refers to entering conditions of the air,

subscript 2 to leaving conditions, and subscript S to coil
surface conditions.
⚫ In using the bypass factor the straight-line law is
assumed because Eqs. 1 and 2 describe a straight line
for the coil condition curve.
⚫ Let X₁ be the BPF (bypass factor) for one row of tubes.
What is the BPF for two or more rows of tubes?
⚫ If t₃ is the outlet temperature from the second row of
tubes,
t₃ = X₁t₂ + tS (1 – X₁)
BYPASS FACTOR

substituting the value of t₂ from Eq.1,

t₃ = X₁[t₁(X₁) + tS (1 – X₁)] + tS (1 – X₁)
= (t₁)X₁² + tS (1 – X₁²)
or the BPF for two rows,
X₂ = (X₁)²
and for n rows of tubes,
n
Xn = (X₁)
BYPASS FACTOR

⚫ If for example, the BPF of one row of tubes is 0.67,

BPF for 2 rows = (0.67)² = 0.45
BPF for 4 rows = (0.67)⁴ = 0.20
BPF for 8 rows = (0.67)⁸ = 0.04, or nearly zero
⚫ The validity of the bypass factor method rests upon
several assumptions as follows:
❑ The surface temperature of the coil is uniform, but for
reasons that can be observed in actual practice, it is
not uniform.
BYPASS FACTOR

❑ The bypass factor of each row of tubes is the same. In

the actual case, however, greater turbulence of the air
entering the second row of tubes gives a lower bypass
factor for the second row compared to the first.
BYPASS FACTOR

Air flow

Typical 4-row evaporator

Section through a typical
coil bank
refrigerant coil
BYPASS FACTOR

⚫ By definition:
Bypass factor is the percentage of air that travels
through a tube and fin coil without touching any coil
surface.
⚫ In Fig.15.7 is shown the process that moist air
undergoes while flowing over a surface.
⚫ The air enters at 1 and leaves at 2 when the surface is
maintained at S. In the transfer of heat and water vapor
in any air conditioning process, the particles of air stream
come in contact with a surface.
BYPASS FACTOR
h₁

h₂
hs 1
ω₁
2
S ω₂
ωs

ω
X 1–X

ts t₂ t₁
t
Fig. 15.7 Bypass factor and leaving air state
BYPASS FACTOR

⚫ The state of the contacted air is that of saturated air at

the temperature of the surface.
⚫ There is thus the equivalent of perfect contact of a
definite portion of the air particles with the surface or no
contact or an equivalent bypass of the remaining
particles.
⚫ The un-contacted air remains at the entering state. The
end state of the air is the same as that produced by the
complex mixing of contacted particles, viz., 2 as shown
in Fig.15.7.
BYPASS FACTOR

⚫ In another way, BPF of the apparatus representing the

fraction of “un-contacted” air in terms of the states 1, 2
and S, as

t₂ – tS ω₂ – ωS h₂ – hS
X = ---------- = ------------- = -----------
t₁ – tS ω₁ – ωS h₁ – hS

⚫ Conversely, one can define a contact factor (1 – X)

representing a fraction of the contacted air.
⚫ Ultimately, the bypass factor can be defined in terms of
temperature or specific humidity or enthalpy of air.
BYPASS FACTOR

⚫ In the absence of any specific data, values from all the

three may be considered to be the same.
⚫ It may be seen in Fig. 15.7 that the resulting state 2
divides the line joining 1 to S in the ratio X and 1 – X.
Assignment # 7 – July 13, 2017
⚫ A cooling tower is a device which cools a spray of
water by passing it through a stream of air. If 26
m³/min of air at 32°C dry bulb and 24°C wet bulb
enter the tower and the air leaves saturated at 29°C,
a) To what temperature can this air stream cool a spray of
water which enters at 38°C with a flow of 34 kg/min?
b) How many pounds per hour of make-up water must be
added to compensate for the water that is evaporated?
QUIZ # 2 – Review the following
⚫ Set A – True of False:
1. Psychrometric properties of moist air
2. Wet Bulb Temp and Thermodynamic Wet Bulb Temp
3. Adiabatic Saturation
4. Psychrometric Chart construction
5. Application of First Law to a Psychrometric Process
(SSSF)
⚫ Set B – Problems:
a) Psychrometric Chart
b) Air mixing
c) SSSF in an air conditioning process