Chemical Engineering Fundamentals 2A

CEFCHA 2
Lecture 19 : Psychrometric Charts II

V Naidoo
JOB 4134
(011) 559 6703
vizellen@uj.ac.za
 OBJECTIVES

 Recap the theory learnt in the last session

 Understand the new concepts introduced
 Go through and attempt the examples

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DRY AIR & HUMID AIR

AIR

DRY AIR (DA) HUMID AIR (HA)

NITROGEN & OXYGEN

DRY AIR + WATER
VAPOUR

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PSYCHROMETRIC CHART

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EXAMPLE 1

The latest weather report states that the temperature is 24°C and the relative
humidity is 50%.

a. Using the chart determine the following values.

i. Wet bulb temperature (oC)

ii. Dew Point (oC)
iii. Absolute Humidity (kg H2O(v)/kg DA)
iv. Specific Volume (m3/kg DA)
v. Specific Enthalpy (kJ/kg DA)
vi. The amount of water (kg) in 1 m3 of humid air

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EXAMPLE 1 SOLUTION

I. 17 ℃
II. 13 ℃
III. 0.0092
IV. 0.855
V. 47.8 kJ/kg DA
VI. =(1 HA)
= 0,0108 kg

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HEATING & COOLING AT CONSTANT PRESSURE

• There is no change in the absolute humidity of the air-

vapor mixture, as long as no condensation occurs.
• Cooling occurs from right to left… if superheated humid is
cooled the system follows a horizontal path to the left until
the saturation curve (dew pt temp & 100% RH); thereafter
the gas phase follows the saturation curve
Cooling
• Heating occurs from left to right.
Condensation • There is a change in the sensible heat of the air-vapor
occurs mixture.
Heating
• Heat must be added or subtracted to cause the temperature
Dry Bulb Temperature change.

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8
 EXAMPLE 2

The latest weather report states that the temperature is 24°C and the relative humidity is 50%. A sample of outside air is cooled at constant
pressure.
1. At what temperature would condensation begin? [Tdp = 13 oC]
2. Calculate the rate at which heat (kJ/s) must be removed for every 1 m 3/s of humid air before condensation occurs. (draw a process
path on the psychometric chart)

Q= ? KJ T2=13oC
RH =50%

1 m3 /s HA mDA kg/s dry air

mDA kg/s dry air 13 °C
24°C RH=100%
RH= 50%

T1 = Tdb=24oC

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EXAMPLE 2
SIMPLIFIED ENERGY BALANCE:
Ĥ1
-0.2  m
Q 
 DA Ĥ 2  Ĥ1  (1)
Ĥ2

MASS OF DRY AIR:

RH m3 1.00 kg DA
m DA  1.00 Humid Air (HA) x
=50% s 0.855 m 3 HA
T2=13oC kg
 1.1696 DA
s

⸫ RATE OF HEAT REMOVED:

 
Q  m DA Ĥ 2  Ĥ1  1.1696
kg
s
DA 36.5 - 47.8
kJ
kg DA
kJ
 - 13.22
s

T1 = Tdb=24oC v =0.855 m3 HA/kg DA

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 EXAMPLE 2
3. If the air is cooled to 10 °C at constant pressure, calculate the fraction of water that condenses and the rate at which (KJ/s)
heat must be removed for every 1 m3/s of humid air. (draw a process path on the psychometric chart)

Q= ? KJ Tdp= 13oC
RH =50%
mDA kg/s dry air T2 =10oC
1 m3/s HA
mDA kg/s dry air m2= kg/s water
m1 kg/s water 10 °C
24°C RH=100%
RH= 50% 10°C
m3= kg/s water condensed
T1 = Tdb=24oC
m1  m 2  m 3
Mass balance,  kg moisture (i.e, water) 
m1  m DA kg DA h a,1 
 kg DA 
 kg moisture (i.e, water) 
m 2  m DA kg DA  h a,2 
 kg DA 
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Determined from the psychrometric chart: EXAMPLE 2
kg H 2O
h a,1  0.0092
kg DA
kg H 2O
h a,2  0.0076
kg DA

1m
m  2 m
3

 1  1.1696
kg  kg H 2 O  kg
m DA   0.0092   0.0108 H 2O
 s  kg DA  s

 2  1.1696
kg  kg H 2 O  kg
m DA   0.0076   0.0089 H 2O
 s  kg DA  s
kg
m  3  0.0019 H 2O
s
m 3 0.0019 kg H 2O condensed
   0.176
The fraction of water that condenses, m1 0.0108 kg H 2O fed

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 EXAMPLE 2
Simplified energy balance,  
Q  m i Ĥ i   m i Ĥ i
out in

Reference states : liquid water at 1 atm & 0 oC, dry air at 1 atm & 0oC
Ĥout(kJ/kg)
Substance min (kg) Ĥin(kJ/kg) @24oC mout (kg)
@10oC
Humid Air mDA kg DA Ĥ1 kJ/kg DA mDA kg DA Ĥ2 kJ/kg DA
H2O (l) - - m3 kg Ĥ3 kJ/kg

 The values of mDA (kg DA) & m3 (kg condensed water) are as previously calculated
 The value of Ĥ3 in kJ/kg is relative to the specific enthalpy of liquid water at 1 atm & 0 oC

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 EXAMPLE 2
Reference states : liquid water at 1 atm & 0oC, dry air at 1 atm & 0oC

Ĥout(kJ/kg)
Substance min (kg) Ĥin(kJ/kg) @24oC mout (kg)
@10oC
Humid Air 1.1696 kg DA 47.8 kJ/kg DA 1.1696 kg DA 29.5 kJ/kg DA
H2O (l) - - 0.0019 kg 41.89 kJ/kg

10 kJ kJ
Table B2 .... Ĥ 3   C p dT  C p ΔT  4.189 10  0 o
C  41.89
0 kg.o C kg
kJ
Table B5 (ref. state : T  0.01o C & P  0.000611 bar) Ĥ 3  42
kg
Rate of heat removed,

Q  m kJ

out
 i Ĥ i   m
in
 i Ĥ i   21.32
s

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 EXAMPLE 3
Calculate the amount of sensible heat that must be added to 10 kg of air at 13°C dry-bulb and 40% relative
humidity to raise the temperature of the air to 32°C dry bulb. What is the corresponding relative humidity?

H2
Enthalpy

H1

40%

13 32 o
C

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 EXAMPLE 3
1. Locate the 13°C dry bulb and 40% RH point.
2. Follow the enthalpies line to Ĥ1.
3. Move horizontally to intercept the vertical line of 32°C dry bulb
4. Follow enthalpies line Ĥ2.
Ĥ2
Ĥ2 = 42-0.45 = 41.55 kJ/kg DA.
Ĥ1 = 22.75-0.075 = 22.675 kJ/kg DA. Enthalpy
Q  m (Ĥ 2 - Ĥ1 ) Ĥ1
kJ
Q  10 kg (41.55 - 22.675) 40%
kg DA
Q  188.75 kJ
13 o
C 32
The relative humidity is now ~ 12%.

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 HUMIDIFICATION & DEHUMIDIFICATION

Dehumidification
Humidification

Dehumidification
A. There is a change from gas to liquid.
B. There is a decrease in the energy level.
C. With the loss of energy, condensation
occurs.

A. Water is added in vapor form.

Humidification B. Water is converted from liquid to gas.
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C. There is an increase in the energy level.
 EXAMPLE 4

How much moisture is needed to raise the relative humidity of an air-vapor mixture from 12% to 50% and the
temperature stays at 75°F.

Water needed, kg water/ kg dry air

= final absolute humidity - initial absolute humidity
= 0.0093 - 0.0022 = 0.0071 kg water / kg dry air 0.0093

50%

0.0022
12%

75°

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 EXAMPLE 4
How much heat is needed to evaporate the water that’s needed to increase the relative humidity from 12% to 50% and the
temperature stays at 75°F.

Heat needed = final enthalpy - initial enthalpy

= 47,5 kJ/kg dry air - 28.0 kJ/kg dry air
= 19,5 kJ/kg dry air
H2

50%
H1

12%

75°db
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 ADIABATIC COOLING
Air undergoing adiabatic cooling through contact with liquid water moves along a constant wet-bulb
temperature line on the psychrometric chart from its initial condition towards the 100% relative humidity
curve

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 ADIABATIC COOLING
Assuming;

1. (Cp)air, (Cp)H2O, and (DHvap)H2O, are independent of temperature at the prevailing process conditions.
2. The enthalpy changes undergone by the unevaporated liquid water and the solid (if there is one) in going from
T2 to T4 are negligible compared to the changes undergone by the entering wet air and the evaporated water.
3. The heat required to raise liquid water from T2 to T3 is negligible compared to the heat of vaporization of water.

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 Q   m i Hˆ i  m i Hˆ i
ADIABATIC COOLING
out in

 m a C p air T3  T1   m a C p H O ( v ) T3  T1 

2

The process is adiabatic (Q=0), then the simplified energy

 
 m we C p H O (l ) T3  T2   m we Hˆ v H 2O equation becomes;
~0 2

 m H 2O ( l ) C p H O ( l ) T4  T2 
2

~0

If the outlet temperature T3 is low enough, the air leaves saturated with water (i.e. RH = 100%) then the temperature
corresponding to this condition is called the adiabatic saturation temperature (T as) & happens to coincide with the wet
bulb temperature (i.e. Tas = Twb)

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WHAT IS EVAPORATIVE COOLING?
 Through evaporation, moisture in the air
accumulates and the air temperature decreases.
 Sensible heat from the air vaporizes water from
its liquid to gaseous phase.
 There is no loss or gain of heat within the system
Addition of because the amount of sensible heat removed
moisture equals latent heat added to the water.
 The process follows a constant enthalpy line and
hence the process is also known as adiabatic
cooling
Lowering of dry bulb temp  The maximum temperature reduction is the
difference between starting dry bulb temperature
Evaporative cooling lowers the dry bulb temperature. and its wet bulb temperature.
It is used when a lower temperature is desired.

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 EXAMPLE 5

A chicken producer is considering installing evaporative cooling in a breeding herd building. The
outside air has a 32°C dry bulb temperature and 35 percent relative humidity,

a. What is the lowest temperature that can theoretically be obtained from the air coming off the cooling
pads.
(~ 21oC )

b. However, due to the inefficiency of evaporative coolers, the temperature of the air coming off the
cooling pads will be 2oC above the lowest attainable temperature in part (a). Estimate the relative
humidity under these conditions.
(~ 23oC , RH~85%)

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 EXAMPLE 6

A chicken producer is considering installing an evaporative cooling system in a

breeding herd building. Air enters the cooler at 35°C dry bulb and 30% relative
humidity and leaves at 27°C

a. Determine the amount of water (kg/hr) needed for an evaporative cooler when
1000 m3/hr humid air passes through a livestock building per hour.

b. Calculate also the flowrate (m3/hr) of air entering the cooler and the
corresponding relative humidity of the air leaving the cooler.

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 EXAMPLE 6

kg water/
kg dry air

0.0143
30%
0.0106

Dry Bulb Temp. 27° 35°

Vhumid ~ 0.8694 m3/kg DA 0.888 m3/kg DA

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 EXAMPLE 6
a. Read absolute humidity value for 35°C and 30% relative humidity
 y1=0.0106 kg water/kg DA
b. Extend enthalphy line toward saturation curve.
c. Read absolute humidity value for 27°C
 y3=0.0143 kg water/kg DA.
d. Water added/kg dry air:
0.0143 - 0.0106 = 0.0037 kg water/kg DA
e. Kg of dry air required
= (1000 m3 air /hr) x (kg DA /0.8694 m3 air) = 1150kg DA /hr
f. Total water added
= 0.0037 kg water/kg DA x 1150 kg DA/hr = 4.256 kg/hr water
g. Air flowrate entering a cooler
= 1150 kg DA /hr x 0.888 m3/kg DA = 1021 m3/hr
h. Relative humidity of air leaving a cooler
= ~ 65%
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