EXAMPLES OF PSYCHROMETRIC CALCULATION

By: Nathanael P. Tandian

1 Adiabatic Saturator
Consider an adiabatic-evaporation process inside an adiabatic saturator shown in Fig. 1. Moist air enters the
saturator while some water evaporates inside the saturator so that the moist air leaves the saturator as
saturated moist air. The notation for thermodynamic properties and the states involved in the process are
shown in Fig. 1.

 

Fig. 1 Adiabatic saturator. (a) Schematic, (b) Process diagram

[Moran et al.: 2014]

The following assumptions are considered in analyzing the phenomenon occurs in the saturator:
 The phenomenon occurs in a steady process
 The saturator is adiabatic
 The moist air leaving from the saturator is in a saturated state
 The make up water entering the saturator as a saturated liquid at the saturator temperature
 Enthalpy of water vapor can be approximated by its saturated vapor enthalpy at its associated
temperature

Continuity equation (conservation of mass)

For dry air: 𝑚̇ , = 𝑚̇ , = 𝑚̇ (1)
For water (liquid & gas): 𝑚̇ + 𝑚̇ = 𝑚′̇ (2)

Energy equation (conservation of energy)

𝑚̇ ℎ (𝑇) + 𝑚̇ ℎ (𝑇) + 𝑚̇ ℎ (𝑇 ) = 𝑚̇ ℎ (𝑇 ) + 𝑚̇ ℎ (𝑇 ) (3)

By using definition of humidity ratio  = 𝑚̇ /𝑚̇ and ′ = 𝑚′̇ /𝑚̇ Eqn. (2) can be written as
𝑚̇ = 𝑚̇ (𝜔 − 𝜔) (4)

Therefore the energy equation can be written as

[ℎ (𝑇) + 𝜔 ℎ (𝑇)] + (𝜔 − 𝜔)ℎ (𝑇 ) = [ℎ (𝑇 ) + 𝜔 ℎ (𝑇 )] (5)

Assuming that enthalpy of water vapor equals to enthalpy of saturated water, therefore Eqn. (5) becomes
[ℎ (𝑇) + 𝜔 ℎ (𝑇)] + (𝜔 − 𝜔)ℎ (𝑇 ) = ℎ (𝑇 ) + 𝜔 ℎ (𝑇 ) (6)

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Humidity ratio equation
As was discussed in the class, there is a relation between the humidity ratio and water vapor partial pressure
as expressed as
𝜔= = 0.622 (7)
or 𝑝 = (8)
.

Please note and understand about the following important facts:

 The moist air entering the saturator is the normal moist air exists in the saturator ambient. Its
temperature is practically identic to the dry bulb temperature of the ambient air.
 The moist air leaving from the saturator is practically at its saturated state or 100% relative humidity,
so that its temperature is practically identic to the wet bulb temperature of the ambient air.
 An equivalent phenomenon also happens in a wet-and-dry bulb psychrometer shown in Fig. 2.
 By knowing both 𝑇 and 𝑇 all important psychrometric properties of the entering moist air can be
calculated.
 Eq. (6) and (7) are important for determining psychrometric properties of moist air when
psychrometric chart is not available. When a psychrometric chart is available, we prefer to utilize it
since it is easier than calculating the adiabatic saturator phenomenon.

Fig. 2. Wet and dry-bulb psychrometers: static psychrometer (left)

[Avogadro’s Lab Supply, Inc.] and sling psychrometer (right) [Carolina
Biological Supply Company].

2 Several Calculation Examples

2.1 Known Pressure and Both Bulb Temperatures (𝑝, 𝑇 , and 𝑇 are known)
Known: 𝑝 = 1 bar, 𝑇 = 30oC, and 𝑇 = 25oC.
Find: All important psychrometric properties at the saturator inlet .
Answer:
At state : 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 25oC
𝑝 = 𝑝 (25oC) = 0.03169 bar [Moran’s Table A-2]
.
𝜔 = 𝜔 = 0.622 .
= 0.0204 kg H2O/kg dry air [Eq. (7)]

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 ℎ = ℎ (25 𝐶) = 2547.2 kJ/kg H2O [Moran’s Table A-2]
ℎ = ℎ (298𝐾) = 298.18 kJ/kg dry air [Moran’s Table A-22]

At state : 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 25oC
ℎ = ℎ (25oC) = 104.89 kJ/kg of H2O [Moran’s Table A-2]

At state : 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 30oC
ℎ = ℎ (30 𝐶) = 2556.3 kJ/kg H2O [Moran’s Table A-2]
ℎ = ℎ (303𝐾) = 303.21 kJ/kg dry air [Moran’s Table A-22]

So far all variables in Eq. (6) have been known, except  = 1. Therefore, Eq. (6) gives an equation for
calculating  in terms of other known properties,
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
= ( ) ( )
(9)

( . .  . ) ( . .  . )
𝜔= . .
.
𝜔= , .
= 0.0183 kg H2O/kg dry air  Ans.

Now, by using Eq. (8) partial pressure of water vapor in the inlet air can be calculated.
.
𝑝 = . .
× 1 bar = 0.0286 bar
Meanwhile, saturated pressure of water vapor at 30 oC is 0.04246 bar [Moran’s Table A-2]. Hence,
the relative humidity of the inlet air can be calculated.
.
= = .
= 0.674 = 67.4%  Ans.

If we use a psychrometric chart, the  and  value are 0.018 kg H2O/kg dry air and 68%, respectively.

2.2 Known Pressure, Humidity Ratio, and Wet Bulb Temperatures (𝑝, , and 𝑇 are known)
In this problem the dry bulb temperature is not known, therefore the problem is more difficult than the
previous problem, since several properties - such as ℎ and ℎ - depend on the dry bulb temperature. In this
problem the dry bulb temperature has to be guessed such that Eq. (6) is satisfied.

Known: 𝑝 = 1 bar,  = 0.014, and 𝑇 = 25oC.

Find: All important psychrometric properties at the saturator inlet .
Answer:
Similar to the previous example, in this problem the wet bulb temperature 𝑇 is known, therefore
properties at state  and  are known.
At state : 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 25oC;
𝜔 = 𝜔 = 0.0204 kg H2O/kg dry air
ℎ = ℎ (25 𝐶) = 2547.2 kJ/kg H2O
ℎ = ℎ (298𝐾) = 298.18 kJ/kg dry air

At state : 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 25oC

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 ℎ = ℎ (25oC) = 104.89 kJ/kg of H2O
Let us guess the dry bulb temperature 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 35oC. Then these thermodynamic properties can
be found based on this guessed temperature.
At state : ℎ = ℎ (35 𝐶) = 2565.3 kJ/kg H2O [Moran’s Table A-2]
ℎ = ℎ (308𝐾) = 308.23 kJ/kg dry air [Moran’s Table A-22]

Substitute all those known properties into Eq. (6) and the humidity ratio based on the guessed dry
bulb temperature,
(298.18 + 0.02042547.2) − (308.23 + 104.890.0204)
𝜔=
2565.3 − 104.89
.
𝜔 = , . = 0.0162 kg H2O/kg dry air
Note that the obtained  is larger than the target/given , therefore we need to guess another dry
bulb temperature. Since the humidity ratio tends to decrease with increases temperature, therefore
we have to try a higher dry bulb temperature. After guessing several values of dry bulb temperature,
finally the correct dry bulb temperature is obtained, i.e. 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 40oC.  Ans.

After obtaining the correct dry bulb temperature, the relative humidity can be calculated by using
similar calculation as in the previous example, i.e. Section 2.1 and gives these results
𝑝 = 0.0221 bar and 𝑝 = 0.07384 bar
therefore  = 0.2996 = 29.96 %.  Ans.

2.3 Known Pressure, Relative Humidity, and Wet Bulb Temperatures (𝑝, , and 𝑇 are known)
This problem is similar to the last problem, i.e. Section 2.2, excepts the humidity ratio of the inlet air is not
given. In this problem, the dry bulb temperature of the inlet air has to be guessed and a value of humidity
ratio can be obtained based on the guessed dry bulb temperature, then the calculation steps can be
continued following the steps mentioned in Section 2.2.

Known: 𝑝 = 1 bar,  = 30%, and 𝑇 = 18oC.

Find: All important psychrometric properties at the saturator inlet .
Answer:
All important thermodynamic properties at state  and  can be obtained by applying the same
method as in Section 2.2.

Guess the inlet air dry bulb temperature, 𝑇 = 𝑇 = 35oC

At state : Saturated pressure of water vapor, 𝑝 = 0.05628 bar [Moran’s Table A-2]
By using definition of relative humidity and Eq. (8), then partial pressure of the water vapor and the
humidity ratio of the inlet air can be determined
𝑝 =  𝑝 = 0.01688 bar
𝜔 = 0.622 = 0.0107 kg H2O/kg dry air

After obtaining the humidity ratio, the calculation becomes the same as the calculation in the
Section 2.2. The calculation is not given here and left as student exercise. The correct answer of this
problem is 𝑇 = 30oC and 𝜔 = 0.008 kg H2O/kg dry air.

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2.4 Known Pressure, Dry Bulb Temperature, and Humidity (𝑝, 𝑇 , and 𝜔 or  are known)
In this case the inlet air properties at state  can be easily calculated, but the properties at state  and 
cannot be determined since the wet bulb temperature (and so the adiabatic temperature) is not known.
Therefore, the wet bulb temperature has to be guessed so that the Eq. (6) or (9) is satisfied. If Eq. (6) or (9) is
not satisfied, then another value of wet bulb temperature has to be guessed and Eq. (6) or (9) has to be
rechecked.

2.5 Known Pressure, Humidity Ratio, and Relative Humidity (𝑝, , and  are known)
This case is the trickiest since there is no information on the dry bulb temperature nor the wet bulb
temperature, therefore both the dry and the wet bulb temperatures have to be guessed. One possible
method is by guessing the dry bulb temperature first. Then utilize the definition of relative humidity and
check the humidity ratio by using Eq. (8), similar to the calculation at the beginning of Section 2.3. If Eq. (8) is
well satisfied it means that the guessed dry bulb temperature is correct. Then calculation can be continued
following the method explained in Section 2.4, i.e. the wet bulb temperature has to be guessed so that the
Eq. (6) or (9) is satisfied. If Eq. (6) or (9) is not satisfied, then another value of wet bulb temperature has to
be guessed and Eq. (6) or (9) has to be rechecked.

3 Closing Remarks
 This hand out does not cover cases when specific enthalpy of moist air is given as an input
information, since the problem becomes too complicated.
 Both the dry bulb and the wet bulb temperature are the key properties in psychrometrics, therefore
if they are not given in the problem then they need to be guessed.
 The dry bulb temperature is directly associated with inlet state of the adiabatic saturator, i.e. state
 in this handout, while the wet bulb temperature is associated with outlet and make up water
state of the adiabtic saturator or state  and , respectively.
 Equation (6), (7), (8), and (9) are key equations for psychrometric calculations. Students need to be
able to utilize them well in solving psychrometric analyses without psychrometric chat.

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