Chapter (1)

PROPERTIES OF MOIST AIR AND PSYCHROMETRY

1- 1 Introduction:
It is known that the atmospheric air consists of many gases such as Oxygen O2 and Nitrogen N2 in addition to very small ratios of Carbon Dioxide CO2, Sulfur Dioxide SO2, Argon A and Helium He. The saturated temperature of these gases is very small, so it is considered as dry gases and could be dealt as ideal gases. Besides to these gases, Water Vapor H2O represents an important ratio in the mixture. In some cases the temperature of the mixture may be very close to the condensing temperature of any of the components of the mixture corresponding to its partial pressure. For example, water vapor condensed if the temperature of the atmospheric air is decreased and reached to the saturation temperature of the water vapor at its partial pressure in the mixture. The condensed water vapor appears as mist or dew. The composition of dry air is relatively constant, but small variations in the amounts of individual components occur with time, geographic location, and altitude. Harrison (1965) lists the approximate percentage composition of dry air by volume as: Nitrogen, 78.084; Oxygen, 20.9476; Argon, 0.934; Carbon dioxide, 0.0314; Neon, 0.001818; Helium, 0.000524; Methane, 0.00015; Sulfur dioxide, 0 to 0.0001; Hydrogen, 0.00005; and minor

components such as Krypton, Xenon, and Ozone, 0.0002. The relative molecular mass of all components, for dry air is 28.9645, based on the carbon-12 scale (Harrison 1965). The gas constant for dry air, based on the carbon-12 scale, is: Ra = 8314.41/28.9645 = 287.055 J/(kgK) (1. 1)

Moist air is a binary (or two-component) mixture of dry air and water vapor. The amount of water vapor in moist air varies from zero (dry air) to a maximum that depends on temperature and pressure. The latter condition refers to saturation, a state of neutral equilibrium between moist air and the condensed water phase (liquid or solid). Unless otherwise stated, saturation refers to a flat interface surface between the moist air and the condensed phase. The relative molecular mass of water is 18.01528 on the carbon-12 scale. The gas constant for water vapor is: Rw = 8314.41/18.01528 = 461.520 J/(kg.K) (1. 2)

The temperature and barometric pressure of atmospheric air vary considerably with altitude as well as with local geographic and weather conditions. The standard atmosphere gives a standard of reference for estimating properties at various altitudes. At sea level, standard temperature is 15 C; standard barometric pressure is 1.01325 bar. The temperature is assumed to decrease linearly with increasing altitude throughout the troposphere (lower atmosphere), and to be constant in the lower reaches of the stratosphere. Equation (1. 3) indicates the temperature variation with altitude; T = 15- 0.0065Z (1. 3)

The lower atmosphere is assumed to consist of dry air that behaves as a perfect gas. Gravity is also assumed constant at the standard value, 9.806 65 m/s2. The barometric pressure decreases with the altitude as follows: P = 101.325(1- 2.25577 10- 5 Z)5.256 where Z = altitude, m P = barometric pressure, kPa T = temperature, C. Table 1 Standard Atmospheric Data Altitud e m -500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 4000 5000 Temp. Pressure kPa C 18.2 15 11.8 8.5 5.2 2.0 -1.2 -4.5 -11.0 -17.5 107.478 101.325 95.461 89.875 84.556 79.495 74.682 70.108 61.640 54.020 Altitude m 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 20000 Temp. Pressure kPa C -24.0 -30.5 -37.0 -43.5 -50 -63 -76 -89 -102 -115 47.181 41.061 35.600 30.742 26.436 19.284 13.786 9.632 6.556 4.328 (1. 4)

1- 2 Psychometry
Psychometry is defined as the branch of science dealing with the study of the properties of air and its behavior. 1-3 THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF MOIST AIR:

If an amount of water vapor (mV) is considered with an amount of dry air, the following expressions are defined: 1- Dry bulb temperature (dbt): When the air temperature is measured by any method, this value is known as the dry bulb temperature of air. So, the dry bulb temperature is defined as the temperature of air taken by the normal thermometer. 2- Wet bulb temperature (wbt): is the temperature at which water (liquid or solid), by evaporating into moist air at a given dry-bulb temperature (T) and humidity ratio ( ), can bring air to saturation adiabatically at the same temperature (Ts) while the pressure (P) is maintained constant. is the temperature of air taken by a thermometer when its bulb is wetted.
3- Dew point (dp): is the temperature of air at which water

vapor presents in it begins to condensate.

4-

Absolute humidity ( ): is defined as the amount of water vapor contained in unit volume of dry air. =
mV V

(1-5)

5-

Specific humidity ( ): is the amount of water vapor attendant with unit mass of dry air. = m d .a
mv = Pv , RV T 18 Pv , RuT ma = ma = Pa Universal gas constant "R u" , R= RaT Molecular Weight 29 Pa RuT mV

(1-6)

mv =

 = 6-

18 Pv P = 0.622 v 29 Pa P Pv

(1-7)

Relative humidity ( ): The relative humidity is the ratio between the relative humidity of air to that at saturation, at the same temperature. As shown in Fig. (1-1), the relative humidity can be expressed as:
1 P = = P 1S s

(1-8)

The relative humidity can also be defined as the amount water vapor presented with air to that should be presented at saturated.
T 1S 1

Fig.(1-1)

The relative humidity changes between zero for dry air and 100 % for saturated air. For dry air, the partial pressure of water vapor Pv is equal to zero. For saturated air the partial pressure of water vapor is equal to the saturated pressure. The amount of water vapor, which the air is capable to carry at saturation, is given by:
s = 0.622
Ps P Ps

Since the saturated pressure depends on the temperature of air, the maximum amount of water vapor could be carried by air at saturation depends also upon the temperature. It is increases with the increase of temperature and decreases when it is decreased. 1-7 Degree of saturation ( ): is the ratio of the air humidity ratio to the humidity ratio temperature and pressure, = ( / s)
1.8
s

of saturated air at the same (1. 9)

Enthalpy (i): The enthalpy of air is a very important

parameter for the wet air. If 1 kg of dry air is considered, and an amount of water vapor is presented within this air. The enthalpy of the mixture is then: i = id.a + iw v 10) It is known that, the enthalpy is a relative property. For air, zero is considered as a reference enthalpy at a reference temperature of 0 C. In this case, the enthalpy of air at a certain temperature t is: id.a = CpT The enthalpy of water at the same temperature is: iw = Cpw T The enthalpy of water vapor at a temperature T is equal to the sum of:
a- The enthalpy of water at 0 C, which in turn equal to zero. b- The latent heat of evaporation of water at 0 C (L.H).

(1-

c- The amount of heat required for heating the vapor from 0 C to a

temperature T. Then: iv = 0 + L.H + CpvT And so, the enthalpy of the mixture is given by: i = CpT + ( L.H + CpvT) 11) Equation (1-11) represents a relation between three values those are: the enthalpy of air, the temperature and the specific humidity. This relation is illustrated at various values of temperature and various values of specific humidity on a chart, known as the Psychrometric chart, that shown in Fig. (1-2). The psychometric chart is also illustrated between the dry bulb temperature, (horizontal coordinate), and the specific humidity, (vertical coordinate). (1-

135 kJ/kg(d.a) 130 125 120 115 110 105 100 95 90 85 80

90 8 % 70 0% %

40 38 36 34 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2

75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 10 5 0 15 20

% 60

% 50
% 40
% 30

20%
10%

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0 50

Dry Bulb Temperature, C Pressure= 101325 Pa

Fig. (1. 2) Psychometric chart

1-4 Air Conditioning Processes:

There are some important processes takes place for the air, they are:
1-

Sensible-heating process: In this process, air is heated by passing through a heating coil. The specific humidity is still constant while the relative humidity is decreased. The temperature is changed as a result of heat added leading to an increase in the enthalpy. Fig. (1. 3) indicates the heating process on the

Humidity Ratio, g/kg(d.a)

psychometric chart. The amount of heat added is calculated from the equation:
Q = m a (i2 i1 )
. .

(1. 12)

/kg [kJ

1
o

dbt [ C]

Fig. (1. 3) Sensible heating

2-

Sensible-cooling process: In sensible cooling process, the air passes through a cooling coil. The temperature of the air is decreased and also the enthalpy, as shown in Fig. (1. 4). The relative humidity increases while the specific humidity is still constant. The sensible cooling occurs when the surface temperature of the cooling coil is higher than the dew point of the air. The amount of heat removed from the air is calculated from the equation:

[kg /kg ] v d.a

Q = m a (i2 i1 )

(1.

/kg [kJ

2 dbt [ C]
o

13) Fig. (1. 4) Sensible heating

3-

Cooling with dehumidification: If the surface temperature of the cooling coil is lower than the dew point of the air, the water vapor presented in the air condenses and separated from the air. The condensation of the water vapor is known as dehumidification. The relative humidity in cooling with dehumidification process increases and the air may leave the cooling coil saturated. The air leaves the cooling coil at a relative humidity below 100% in the case of inefficient cooling. Fig. (1. 5) indicates the cooling with dehumidification process.

10

[kg /kg ] v d.a

] g a J/k d. k i[

2'

2
o

dbt [ C]

Fig. (1. 5) cooling with dehumidification The amount of heat removed from the air can be classified into two values: a)
. .

Sensible heat, which is due to the change of

temperature, and it is given by:

Q s = m a Cp a (T1 T2 )

b)
. .

Latent heat , which due to the change of specific

.

humidity, and it is given by:

Q L = m v L = m a (1 2 ) L

The total heat removed is given by:

Q = Q S + Q L = m a (i1 i 2 )
. . . .

[kg /kg ] v d.a

(1. 14)

The amount of water vapor condensed is given by:

m v = m a (1 2 )
. .

(1. 15)

The efficiency of the cooling is defined as:

c =

T1 T2 1 2 = T1 T2 ' 1 2 '

(1. 16)

11

Where: T2' and 2' are the temperature and specific humidity of the air at saturated case.
4-

Humidification process: Humidification of air is attained by two ways:

4-1 Adiabatic humidification: This process is achieved by passing the air through an air washer where water is sprayed in the air. As a result of the interaction between the sprayed water and the air, some of the very small droplets of the water evaporate and carried out by the air. The wet bulb temperature of the air is still constant while the dry bulb temperature decreases as shown in Fig. (1. 6). Both of the relative and specific humidity of the air increase. The rate of evaporated water that gained by the air is given by:
m v = m a ( 2 1 )
. .

(1. 17)

The humidification efficiency is given by:

h = 2 1 2 ' 1

(1.18)

] g a J/k d. [k
2'

2 1

dbt [ C]

Fig. (1. 6) Adiabatic humidification

12

[kg /kg ] v d.a

4-2 Humidification with steam injection: In this case steam is injected in the air stream. The air carries a small amount of the steam and so its dry bulb temperature is still constant, while the enthalpy increases. Figure (1. 7) represents the process on the psychometric chart. The heat added in the process represents latent heat only, and is given by:
Q = m a (i2 ii )
. .

(1.19)

/kg [kJ

]
2'

1 dbt [ C]
o

Fig. (1. 7) humidification with steam injection The amount of vapor gained by air is given by:
m v = m a ( 2 1 )
5. .

[kg /kg ] v d.a

(1.20)

Adiabatic dehumidification: In many applications, it is required to remove some of the moisture, contained by the air, to have nearly dry air. When the air is cooled and dehumidified, the relative humidity increases and the decrease in temperature may

13

be unsuitable. In this case dry of air is achieved by passing it on chemical substance that absorbs the moisture like silica-jell. The process indicates an increase in the dry bulb temperature with decreasing in the specific and relative humidity as shown in Fig. (1. 8). Although the dry bulb temperature of the air is increased, the wet bulb temperature has no change and so the amount of heat transfer is nearly equal to zero. The amount of water vapor removed is given by:
m v = m a (1 2 )
. .

] /kg d.a [kJ

1 2 dbt [ C]
o

Fig. (1. 8) Adsorbent dehumidification 6 Mixing of air: When an amount of air at a certain condition (1) is mixed with another amount at condition (2), the mixed air will be at condition (M). The mixed point lies between (1) and (2). Applying the energy balance for the process gives:
m1 i1 + m 2 i2 = (m1 + m 2 )iM
. . . .

[kg /kg ] v d.a

(1. 21)

14

Fig. (1. 9) Mixing of air

[kg /kg ] v d.a

] g a J/k d. k i[

1 2
o M

dbt [ C]

Example (1. 1): Air at 15 C dbt and 10 C wbt passes through a heating coil where it leaves at 30 C. Find the amount of heat added per unit mass flow rate of air and the final relative humidity. Solution: According to Fig. (1. 3), the following parameters can be given: i1 = 29.5, i2 = 45 kJ/kg, q = i2 i1 = 15.5 kJ/kg. Example (1. 2): Air at 38 C dbt and 26 C wbt passes through a cooing coil where it leaves at 20 C. State if the cooling is sensible or not. Find the amount of heat removed per unit mass flow rate of air and the final relative humidity. Solution: From the psychometric chart, at 38 C dbt, 26 C wbt, the dp is 22 C. Since the air is cooled to 20 C, which is lower than the dew point temperature of the air at this condition (22 C), the
2

= 20.5 %

15

is associated with dehumidification. Referring to Fig. (1. 5) and from psychometric chart, the following data can be obtained: i1= 80 kJ/kg, 1 =16.4 gv/kga , i2 =57.5 kJ/kg , 2 =14.8 gv/kga q = i1-i2 = 80-57.5=22.5 kJ/kg = 1 - 2 = 16.4-14.8=1.6 gv/kga Example (1. 3) Air at 35 C dbt and 24 C wbt under goes the following two processes: 1- Cooling to 16 C dbt and 90% R.H. 2- Heating until the relative humidity is decreased to 50%. If the amount of air is 20 kg/sec, find: 1- The amount of heat removed from the air during cooling process. 2- The amount of water vapor removed from the air. 3- The cooling coil efficiency. 4- The heater capacity in kW. Solution: Figure (1. 10) indicates the flow diagram and its representation on the psycrometric chart.

Fig. (1. 10)

16

From the Psycrometric chart we get:

i1 = 72.3, i2 = 42, i2 = 37.2, i3 = 53 kJ/kg 1 = 14.4, 2 = 10.15 gmwv/kgda

Then:
Q c = m a (i1 i2) = 606 kW
.

m v = m a ( 1 - 2)

= 0.085 kgv/kgda c=
.

i1 i2 = 0.86 i1 i2 '
.

Q h = m a (i3 i2) = 316 kW

Example (1. 4) Air at 37 C dbt and 25 C wbt is mixed with air at 25 C dbt and 50% R.H with a ratio of 1:2 by weight bases. The mixture is then passes over a cooling coil where it leaves at 18 C and 90 % R.H. If the total amount of air is 20 kg/sec, find: 1- The amount of heat removed from the air. 2- Check whether the cooling is sensible or cooling with dehumidification. If the second case is attained, what would be the amount of water vapor removed from the air. 3- The cooling coil efficiency. b) Data: T1 = 37 C db, 25 C wb, T2 = 25 C db,
m 1/ m 2 = 1/2, T4=20 C,
. . .

= 0.5,

= 0.9, m tot = 20 kg/sec. c)

CC

Required: a) Q R, b) m V

17

Solution: Figure (1. 11) shows the flow diagram and its illustration on the the psycrometric chart.

Fig. (1. 11) From the psycrometric chart we get: Point (1): i1 = 76.5kJ/kg, 1 = 0.015 kgv/kgda Point (2): i2 = 51 kJ/kg, Point (3): i3 = 59.4 kJ/kg, 2 = 0.01 kgv/kgda 3 = 0.012 kgv/kgda

Point (4): i4 = 48 kJ/kg, 4 = 3 = 0.012 kgv/kgda Then: Q = m (i3 i4) = 228 kW The process is sensible cooling, m V = 0
CC
.
.

= 92 %.

18