ME 410 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SYSTEMS LABORATORY

MASS & ENERGY BALANCES IN

PSYCHROMETRIC PROCESSES
EXPERIMENT 3

1. OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to observe four basic psychrometric processes which
are heating, cooling, humidification and dehumidification in an air conditioning unit. The air
velocity, dry and wet bulb temperatures and the amount of water added/removed will be
measured to check the mass and energy balances of these processes.
2. INTRODUCTION
The function of an air conditioning equipment is to change the state of the entering air to a
desired state by controlling temperature and humidity of the specified space.
Air conditioning applications are divided into two types according to their purposes:
i) Comfort air conditioning, ii) Industrial air conditioning. The primary function of air
conditioning is to modify the state of the air for human comfort. The industrial air
conditioning meets the temperature and humidity requirements of an industrial or scientific
process.
In comfort air conditioning, it is necessary to control simultaneously the temperature,
relative humidity, cleanliness and distribution of air to meet the comfort requirements of the
occupants.
According to the comfort chart given by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration
and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), comfort conditions can be obtained at 20-23C
dry bulb temperature (DBT) and (50 20)% relative humidity in winter, and 24-27C DBT
and (50 20)% relative humidity in summer. In order to maintain these requirements, the
state of the air is modified in an air conditioning apparatus such that the varying summer and
winter loads are balanced.
3. THEORY
In air conditioning, the moist air (or simply the air) is taken as a mixture of dry air (a)
and water vapor (w) carried with it. At a given total air pressure and temperature, the amount
of water vapor that may be contained in the air is limited. The mixture existing at this limit is
called saturated air. Any excess water vapor in the air separates itself from the mixture as a
liquid (condensate) or solid (ice).

The dry bulb temperature (Tdb) is the familiar temperature that can be measured by a
thermometer or a thermocouple. On the other hand, the wet bulb temperature, Twb, is related
to the humidity level. The humidity of moist air may be stated in terms of either relative
humidity, or humidity ratio, .
The psychrometric charts are diagrams giving the relationship between Tdb, Twb, ,
and h (enthalpy) by assuming an ambient pressure. For example, ASHRAE psychrometric
chart no. 5 is for 750 m. elevation (92.634 kPa barometric pressure) which may be used for
Ankara (see Fig. 7). Many psychrometric processes may be represented on these charts by
straight lines.
Wet bulb temperature (Twb) is the temperature measured when the bulb of a
thermometer or the junction of a thermocouple is wetted. For unsaturated moist air, it is less
than the dry bulb temperature; the difference being proportional to the relative humidity. In
practice Twb is assumed to be equal to the adiabatic saturation temperature, T*, which would
be reached if moisture is added in an adiabatic process until the air becomes saturated. Thus,
Twb ~ T*.
Relative humidity () and humidity ratio () are defined as,
/

(1)

where Pw is the partial pressure of water vapor in air and Pws is the saturation pressure
of water at air temperature T. Relative humidity is a dimensionless quantity usually expressed
as percentage. The humidity ratio (also called specific humidity), , is defined as
/

(2)

where mw is the mass of water vapor in moist air and ma is the mass of the dry air.
Using the ideal gas relationship for dry air and water vapor, humidity ratio becomes
.

(3)

The humidity ratio of air at a given P and T may be calculated from the above
relationships when T* is known:

(4)

where
.

T, T* are the dry

d and wett bulb tempeeratures (C
C), respectivvely,
hf* is the speccific enthalppy of liquid water at T* (kJ/kgw)
hg is the speciific enthalpy of water vapor
v
at T (kJ/kgw)
hfgg* = (hg - hf) at T* (kJ/kkgw)
*
Pws
essure of waater evaluateed at T* (kPaa)
w is the satturation pre

cpa is the consstant pressuure specific heat of dry air (1.0035 kJ/kga).
Noote that * indicates properties
p
w
which
are ev
valuated at the
t adiabatiic saturation
n (that is
*
the wet bulb) temperaturre T .
En
nthalpy (h))
Thhe enthalpyy of the moiist air at anyy state can be read from psychrom
metric chartts or can
bee calculated as:
@

(5)
1.0035

2501.4

1.872
23

Seensible Heaating or Coooling (Qs)

Thhe sensible heat transffer process is

one whhere only energy is
i added or
removedd from the moist air. The dry annd
wet bullb temperattures, relattive humidiity
change as a resullt of heat transfer, but
b
there is no changee in water vapor
v
conteent
or humiidity ratio of the air (seee Fig. 1).

Fig.
F 1 Sensibble heating and cooling
g

Humidificatiion or Dehu
umidificatiion
w
vaporr to the air is called humidificati
h
ion. Humid
dification
Thhe process of adding water
increasees the humiddity ratio, relative hum
midity, wet bulb
b
temperrature and thhe enthalpy
y, but the
dry bulbb temperatuure may sligghtly changge or remain
ns unchangeed. The reveerse process, which

decreasees the humiidity ratio is

i called dehhumidificattion. It mayy be achieveed by absorrbing the
moisturre at constaant temperatture by a desiccant
d
(aa drying ageent) as show
wn in Fig. 2 or by
cooling the moist air below its dew point
p
tempeerature as illustrated
i
iin Fig. 3 by
b using
refrigeraation.
Coombined Heating
H
and
d Humidificcation, or Cooling
C
and
d Dehumid
dification
Thhe followinng combinedd sensible and
a latent process,
p
shoown in Fig. 3 may occcur in air
conditiooning:
1--6: Heating and humidiification (coommon in winter)
w
1--7: Heating and dehumiidification (with
(
a desiccant)
1--8: Cooling and humidiification (ass in air wash
hers)
1--9: Cooling and dehumidification (common
(
in
n summer)
1--9: Coolingg and dehum
midification (theoretical)
Inn Fig. 3, process 1-9 is actual
a
wherreas processs 1-9 is theooretical (ideeal).

Fig. 2 Humidificatio
H
n and dehumiidification conncepts

Fig. 3 Combinned processess

M
Mass
and En
nergy Balan
nces

Att steady staate, the folloowing relattions

can be obtained from
fr
the mass and ennergy
balances for a genneral process as show
wn in
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 General
G
conttrol volume
Thhe continuitty equation for dry air is
i given by

(6
6)
annd that for thhe water vappor is
.

(7
7)

Thhe first law of thermoddynamics yieelds

(8)
whhere

d
sensiible heatingg or cooling
zero during

m& w = condeensate remooved during dehumidification (-)

waterr vapor injeccted during humidificattion (+)

h at water
w
vapor temperaturee (96 o C) fo
or humidificcation
hw = g
midificationn
h f at T2 for dehum

Q& = Rate of heat transfeer, (+) for heating, (-) for

f cooling
Noote that watter boils at about
a
96oC in Ankara.
Thhe percentagge error bettween the measured
m
and
d theoreticaal values cann be found by
b
P
Percentage
E
Error
=

Theeoretical Vaalue Measuured Value

100%
Theorretical Valuue

(9
9)

Reefrigeration
n Cycle
Coooling the moist
m
air with
w or without dehumiidification is
i usually aachieved by
y using a
mechannical refrigerration cyclee which includes a com
mpressor, a condenser, an expansio
on valve
(or capiillary tube for
fo small sysstems) and an
a evaporattor.

Fig. 5 Refrigeraation cycle

Inn the laboraatory unit, thhe compresssor is recip
procating tyype run by an electricaal motor
which also
a runs thee fan of the air cooled condenser.
c
Figure 5 shhows the equuipment sch
hematics
as well as P-h and T-s diagram
ms of a typiical cycle. In
I reality, thhe compresssion processs will be

irreversible and there will be pressure losses through the evaporator, the condenser and the
connecting pipes. The isentropic efficiency of the compressor is defined as:
(10)
The parameters that are important include the compressor discharge temperature (T2),
cooling capacity, power input and coefficient of performance of the cycle which may be
defined as :
(11)
Because of the irreversibility of the expansion valve and also the other parts, the COP
becomes less than the ideal value of a reversible (Carnot) cycle,
(12)
Fig. 8 is the P-h diagram for the refrigerant, R-12.
4. Experimental Setup
The schematic layout of the set-up is shown in Fig. 6. The main parts of the set-up are as
follows:
i.

Preheaters : Three electrical heaters to heat the air entering

ii.

Boiler : To supply steam for humidifier. It is composed of a stainless steel

container and three electrical heaters, which are dipped into the water

iii.

Cooling Coil : To cool the air with or without dehumidification

iv.

Rotating vane anemometer : To measure air flow rate in feet per minute

v.

Reheaters : Two electrical heaters after the cooling coil which reheats the
cooled air before delivery to the space, if required

vi.

Compressor-Condenser unit : To complete the refrigeration cycle

vii.

Fan : For air circulation

viii.

Thermocouples and thermometers : For measuring dry and wet bulb

temperatures

PROCEDURE :
Before the Experiment:
Check all the thermocouples and thermometers, they should show the same dry bulb and
wet bulb temperatures at all locations.
Start the boiler and wait until the thermometer shows 96C. Then turn OFF the power to
the boiler, to be restarted for humidification.

During the Experiment:

Turn the fan ON and note down the air flow. Use heating, cooling, humidification and
dehumidification as required. Make the necessary measurements and note them down on the
enclosed Data Sheet. At least 10-15 minutes should pass to reach a steady state after any
modification on the operation is made. Measurement steps during the experiment:

Start your alarm clock to measure the condensed water and water level change in the

boiler (5 min).

During this 5 min. duration,

read the wet bulb and dry bulb temperature values for each state,

read the temperature values related with the refrigeration cycle,

read the pressure values related with the refrigeration cycle.

After 5 min measure the amount of the collected condensed water and boiler level.

Measure the air velocity.

After the Experiment:

(1) Plot the process lines on psychrometric chart.
(2) Estimate the Twb at section 4, based on state 5 and the processes between states 4 and
5 (Hint: use the psychrometric chart).
(3) Find h, and from chart and from equations (1) to (5). Compare the results.
(4) Make necessary calculations for m& a , m& w and Q& at each section. Compare the
theoretical energy and mass changes with measured ones.
(5) Draw the refrigeration (R-12) cycle on the P-h diagram provided (Fig. 8) and
estimate power input to the compressor, (
, refrigerant flow rate ( m& r ), isentropic
efficiency ( ) and the COP.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Questions for Further Discussion:
i.

Why using the sea level psychrometric chart for Ankara is incorrect? Estimate
the error in humidity ratio and enthalpy at some selected moist air states.

ii.

Estimate the heat lost or gained from the duct surfaces. Will the omission of this
cause significant errors in the energy balances? (Usur = 1.7 W/(m2.C)) (ONLY
FOR THE LONG REPORT)

iii.

Section

Preheater

Evaporator

Reheater

Total

Lateral Area (m2)

0.72

0.6

2.28

Comment on taking electrical heaters consumption as constant. Estimate the

variation in electrical energy supplied to these heaters if the resistance is known
within 20%, and voltage varies within 5%. (ONLY FOR LONG REPORT)

1
d
Discharge

Inlet

Rotating vane anemometer

Mixer
4

Evaporator

Mixer

Mixer

Steam
Injection

Fan
Feed Water
Reheaters
(3.6 kW)

PreHeaters
(2.88 kW)

T.E.V

Drier

Boiler

Condensate
Compressor
condenser unit

Liquid
Receiver
1.44 kW

Fig. 6 Schematic drawing of the experimental set-up

9

2.5 kW

1.44 kW

ME 410 EXPERIMENT 3
Mass & Energy Balances in Psychrometric Processes
DATA SHEET

Lab Group :

AMBIENT
Pressure
92
Temperature

Preheaters:
Reheaters:

Section
1&2
3
5

Date:

AIR FLOW (ft/min)

kPa
mV

(11th T.C)

0.72 kW each (x3)

0.72 kW each (x2)

Duct Area:
Boiler Cross Section:

Temperature
Dry Bulb
Wet Bulb
TC No.
(mV)
TC No.
(mV)
1
2
3
4
7
8

0.0875 m
0.3 m x 0.4 m

TC Readings at Section 4 (Dry-bulb)

TC No.
9
10
12
13

(mV)

TC No.
14
15
16
18
Tavg

(mV)

ENERGY VALUES
Energy Input at Preheaters
Energy Input at Reheaters

kW
kW

REFRIGERATION CYCLE
Psi (Red Gage)
Psi (Blue Gage)
mV (20th TC)
mV (21st TC)

High side pressure of compressor

Low side pressure of compressor
Temperature at condenser inlet
Temperature at evaporator outlet

WATER MEASUREMENTS
Measurement Time
Change in boiler level
Amount of condensate

min
mm
ml

Conversion Factors:
1 Psi =6.895 kPa
1 ft/min 0.00508 m/s
T (C) 23.46xT(mV) + 2.35

10

ME 410 EXPERIMENT 3
OUTLINE FOR RESULTS
Table-1 Enthalpy (h), humidity ratio () and relative humidity () values for each section

Section

Tdb

Twb

( oC )

( oC )

From Chart
h (kJ/kg)

(gr/kg)

From Equations

(%)

h (kJ/kg)

(gr/kg)

Deviations ( % )

(%)

1&2
3
4
5

Table-2 Results of energy and mass balance calculations

Measured Values
States

Process

2&3

Preheating+
Humidification

3&4

Cooling+
Dehumidification

4&5

Reheating

COP

Q& m (kW)

m& w (kg/s)

..

kg/s

..

kg/s

..

kW

..

..

11

Theoretical Values

Q& m (kW)

m& w (kg/s)

% Deviations

Q& m

m& w

Fig. 7 ASHRAE Psychrometric Chart

12

Fig. 8 P-H Chart

13