Dr.

Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University

ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-1 INTRODUCTION

 Theatmospheric air is actually a mixture of two gases: dry air and water vapor (i.e. moisture).
This gas mixture is called moist air.

 Why is it important to study moist air?

 Psychrometrics ≡ the science that deals with the properties of moist air.

2-2 PROPERTIES OF MOIST AIR

 How do we treat the moist air in air-conditioning applications?

 Both the dry air and the water vapor which constitute the moist air mixture can be treated as
ideal gases in air-conditioning processes (low pressure and temperature less than 50oC).

 Therefore, relations of ideal gas and gas mixture are applied here.

2-2-1 Gas Constant

 The air Ra 0.06855 Btu/lb

gas constant of the dry= = ⋅ R 0.287 kJ/kg ⋅ K

 The =
gas constant of the water vapor Rv 0.1102 Btu/lb
= ⋅ R 0.4615 kJ/kg ⋅ K

2-2-2 Pressure

 Dalton’sLaw ≡ if a gas mixture occupies a given volume at a given temperature, the total
pressure of the mixture is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the components comprise
the mixture.

 Thus, the pressure of moist air is the sum of the partial pressures the dry air and the water
vapor.

P = Pa + Pv

2-2-3 Temperature & Volume

 According to Dalton’s law, the dry air and water vapor should have the same temperature of
the moist air and each occupies the same volume occupied by the moist air.

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 1/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-2-4 Humidity Properties

 Humidity ratio W ≡ the amount of water vapor in a unit mass of dry air in the moist air.

mv
W= [lb water vapor / lb of dry air ] or [ kg water vapor / kg of dry air ]
ma

 Using the ideal gas relation for the dry air and water vapor, the humidity ratio is given by:

Pv
W = 0.622 [lbv /lba ] or [ kg v /kg a ]
P − Pv

 The humidity ratio is also known as the moisture content, specific humidity, and absolute
humidity.

 Saturated air ≡ when the air cannot hold any more water vapor (i.e. moisture).

 Moisture capacity ms ≡ maximum amount of moisture (i.e. water vapor) the air can hold at a
given temperature and pressure.

 The humidity ratio of a saturated air Ws is expressed in terms of the moisture capacity:

ms P
Ws W=
= max = 0.622 s where Ps = Psat @ Temp of moist air
ma P − Ps

 Relative humidity φ ≡ the ratio of the mole fraction of the water vapor xv in moist air to the
mole fraction of the water vapor in a saturated air xs at the same temperature and pressure.

xv
φ= [%]
xs

 Combining the humidity ratio and relative humidity equations yields:

W P φ Ps
φ = and W 0.622
( 0.622 + W ) Ps P − φ Ps

 Degree of saturation µ ≡ the ratio of the humidity ratio of moist air to the humidity ratio of a
saturated air at the same temperature and pressure.

W mv
µ= = [%]
Ws ms

 The degree of saturation can be expressed in terms of the relative humidity

P − Ps
µ =φ [%]
P − Pv

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 2/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-2-5 Dew-Point Temperature

 Dew ≡ water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air.

 How does dew form outside at night?

 Dew-point temperature Tdp ≡ the temperature at which condensation begins when moist air is
cooled at constant pressure.

Tdp = Tsat @ Pv

 Let us try to understand the dew-point temperature on the T-ν diagram.

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 3/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-2-6 Enthalpy

I. DRY AIR:

 Assuming ideal gas behavior for dry air with constant specific heat Cpa = 0.240 Btu/lb⋅oF (or
1.005 kJ/kg⋅oC), the enthalpy of dry air is given by ha = C pa T

 English system: ha = 0.24 T

 SI system: ha = 0.24 T

II. WATER VAPOR:

 Assumingideal gas behavior, the enthalpy of water vapor should be only function of T. From
thermodynamic property tables, Cpv = 0.444 Btu/lb⋅oF (or 1.86 kJ/kg⋅oC).

 English system: hv = 1061.2 + 0.444 T

 SI system: hv = 1061.2 + 0.444 T

III. MOIST AIR:

 The enthalpy of moist air can be determined using the gas mixture relation:

h = ha + Whv [ Btu/lb dry air ] or [ kJ/kg dry air ]

 Combining the enthalpy relations for dry air and water vapor together:

 English system: h = 0.24 T + W (1061.2 + 0.444 T ) [ Btu/lb dry air ]

 SI system: h = 0.24 T + W (1061.2 + 0.444 T ) [ kJ/kg dry air ]

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 4/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-2-7 Dry-Bulb and Wet-Bulb Temperature

 Dry-bulb temperature Tdb ≡ the ordinary temperature of moist air.

 Wet-bulbtemperature Twb ≡ is read from a wet-bulb thermometer which is an ordinary

thermometer whose bulb is enclosed by a wick moistened with water.

 Psychrometer ≡ a device used to measure the dry- and wet-bulb temperatures of moist air.

Wet-bulb
thermometer Dry-bulb
thermometer

Wet wick

 The humidity ratio W can be determined using the dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperature:

C pa (Twb − Tdb ) + Wwb h fg ,wb Ps ,wb

W = where Wwb 0.622
hg ,db − h f ,wb Patm − Ps ,wb

2-2-8 Final Note about Moist Air Properties

 Inorder to determine the properties of moist air, moist air pressure P (i.e. atmospheric
pressure) must be known along with two intensive independent properties.

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 5/25
 Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

Consider a 150-m3 sealed room contains air at 25oC and 100 kPa at a relative humidity of
60%. Determine:
(a) The moisture content.
(b) The degree of saturation.
(c) The dew-point temperature.
(d) The mass of water vapor in the atmospheric air.
(e) The enthalpy of moist air.
(f) If the air is cooled at constant pressure to 10oC, estimate the amount of water vapor that
would condense.

φ Ps
Ps Psat @ 25=
= o
C
3.169 kPa ⇒ W
= 0.622 = 0.01206 kgv /kga
P − φ Ps

P − Ps
φ = Pv / Ps ⇒ Pv = φ Ps = 1.9014 kPa ⇒ µ = φ = 59.22%
P − Pv

T dp T=
= sat @ Pv 16.62 o C

P =Pa + Pv ⇒ Pa =P − Pv =98.1 kPa

PaV 98.1(150 )
PaV = m a R aT ⇒ ma = = = 172.05 kg
R aT 0.287 ( 298 )

mv
W1 = ⇒ mv = W 1m a = 2.075 kg
ma

=h 1.005 T +W ( 2501.3 + 1.86

= ( 25) 55.85 kJ/kga
T ) 1.005 ( 25 ) + 0.01206  2501.3 + 1.86=

For T 2 < T dp ⇒ φ2 =
100% (saturated air on the saturated-vapor line)

=Pv 2 P=
sat @10 o C
1.2276 kPa (since water vapor is saturated vapor)

Pv 2 1.2276
=W 2 0.622
= 0.622= 0.00773 kgv /kga
P − Pv 2 100 − 1.2276

mv 2
W2 = ⇒ mv 2 = W 2 m a = 0.00773 (172.05 ) = 1.33 kg
ma
The amount of water vapor that condensed ∆mv = mv 1 − mv 2 = 2.075 − 1.33 =
0.745 kg

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 6/25
 Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

A psychrometer which reads 80oF and 60oF is used to measure moist air properties. If the
atmospheric pressure is 14.3 psi, determine:
(a) The humidity ratio.
(b) The relative humidity.
(c) The enthalpy of the air-water vapor mixture.

o
Given: T db= T=
1 80 F, T wb
= T=
2 60 o F, P= 14.3 psi

=Ps 2 P=
sat @ 60 o F
0.2563 psi

Ps 2 0.2563
=W 2 0.622
= 0.622= 0.01135 lbv /lba
P2 − Ps 2 14.3 − 0.2563

C pa (T 2 −T1 ) +W 2 hfg 2 0.24 ( 60 − 80 ) + 0.01135 (1059.6 )

W1 = = 0.00676 lbv /lba
h g 1 − hf 2 1096.4 − 28.08

=Ps 1 P=
sat @80 o F
0.5073 psi

W 1P1 0.00676 (14.3)

=φ1 = = 30.3%
( 0.622 +W 1 ) Ps 1 ( 0.622 + 0.00676 ) 0.5073

0.24 T1 +W 1 (1061.2 + 0.444 T1 )

h1 =

=0.24 ( 80 ) + 0.00676 1061.2 + 0.444 ( 80 )  =26.61 Btu/lba

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 7/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-3 PSYCHROMETRIC CHART

 Inthe previous section, we introduced mathematical relations to determine various properties

of moist air.

 In this section, we introduce a graphical method to determine these properties.

 Psychrometric chart ≡ provides the properties of moist air in a graphical form.

 Each psychrometric chart is drawn for specific atmospheric pressure and elevation.

 What is the most common psychrometric chart?

 Who was the first to publish a psychrometric chart combines the thermodynamic properties
of moist air?

 The psychrometric chart is used extensively in air-conditioning applications.

 Basic features of the psychrometric chart:

 Note the atmospheric pressure and the elevation on the left top side of the chart.
 Dry-bulb temperature is plotted along the horizontal axis of the chart.
 Humidity ratio is plotted along the vertical axis on the right-hand side of the chart.
 Note the unit of the humidity ratio W in the SI charts.
 Relative humidity lines which slope upward from left to right appear at regular
intervals.
 On the left end of the chart, there is the saturation curve with a shape similar to the
relative humidity lines. What is the relative humidity on this curve?
 Lines of constant wet-bulb temperature run from the upper left to the lower right.
 Note that the lines of Tdb = X intersects with the line of Twb = X at the saturation curve.
 Although the enthalpy lines appear to coincide with the wet-bulb temperature, they
diverge gradually and are not parallel to one another.
 Lines of constant specific volume (per unit of mass of dry air) are similar but steeper.

 How the dew-point temperature can be determined from the psychrometric chart?

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 8/25
 Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

Consider a room in which the air is at 1 atm, 24oC, and 50% relative humidity. Use the
psychrometric chart to determine:
(a) The humidity ratio.
(b) The wet-bulb temperature.
(c) The dew-point temperature.

T db 24 o =
Given: = C, φ 50%,
= P 1=
atm 101.325 kPa

=W 9.4
= g water / kg air 0.0094 kgv /kga

T wb = 17.2 o C

T dp = 13 o C

EXAMPLE

Consider moist air at 14.696 psi, 90oF dry bulb, and 68oF wet bulb. Using the psychrometric
chart, determine:
(a) The relative humidity.
(b) The enthalpy of the moist air.

Given:
= T db 90 o=
F, T wb 68
=o
F, P 14.696 psi

φ = 32%

h = 32.2 Btu/lba

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 9/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-4 SENSIBLE HEAT & LATENT HEAT

 Air
conditioning moist air may involve one or more of the following: Cooling, Heating,
Humidifying, and Dehumidifying.

 Therefore, any air-conditioning process aims to accomplish one or both of these two goals:

 Change the moist air temperature.

 Change the moisture content of moist air.

 To complete the air-conditioning process and achieve these goals, a total heat must be added
or removed from the moist air. This total heat is divided into two types:

 Sensible Heat ≡ the heat added or removed from the moist air to change its
temperature without phase change.

 Latent Heat ≡ the heat added or removed from the moist air to change its moisture
content at constant temperature.

 The sum of these two types comprises the total heat that should be used in the air-conditioning
process.

 Example: cooling a room in a hot humid summer day. What is the cooling capacity of this
process?

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 10/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-5 BASIC AIR-CONDITIONING PROCESSES

 Two powerful analytical tools of air-conditioning design system are the mass balance and
energy balance equations.

 Most air-conditioning processes can be modeled as steady-flow systems.

AC
Moist air Moist air
system

 Mass balance:

Dry air:

Water:

 Energy balance:

∑ m e he − ∑ m i hi
Q −W =

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 11/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-5-1 Simple Heating & Cooling

 What do simple heating and cooling mean?

 To determine the heat rate associated with a simple heating or cooling, the energy balance for
a single-stream steady-flow system is used:

Q = m a ( h2 − h1 ) [ Btu/h ] or [ kW ] or [ ton ]

 Using the equation from the energy balance along with the ideal gas approximation for moist
air, an equation for the sensible heat transfer rate can be obtained.

Q s = m a C p (T2 − T1 )

 In
the temperature range of air-conditioning processes, the specific heat of moist air Cp is
commonly taken as 0.244 Btu/lb⋅oF (or 1.02 kJ/kg⋅oC).

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 12/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-5-2 Cooling with Dehumidification

 Consider the actual cooling-dehumidification process on the psychrometric chart.

Cooling Heating coil

coil

  

Condensed
water

 However, HVAC engineers only concern with the in and out states of the moist air. Therefore,
they reduce the actual process to merely a straight line from state 1 to state 2.

 Mass balance:

Dry air: m
 a1 m=
=  a 2 m a

m w m w
Water: m v 1 =
m v 2 +m w W2+
⇒ W1 = ⇒ W 1 −W 2
=
m a m a

 Using the energy balance equation to derive an equation for the cooling capacity (i.e. coil
load):

Q = m a ( h2 − h1 ) + m a (W1 − W2 ) hw

 The sensible heat transfer rate in this process can be expressed as

Q s = m a ( h2 −=
h3 ) m a C p (T2 − T3 ) = m a C p (T2 − T1 )

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 13/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

 The latent heat represents the heat required to produce the condensate water. Thus, the latent
heat transfer rate in this process can be expressed as

Q l = m a ( h3=
− h1 ) m=
w h fg m a (W1 − W2 ) h fg

 hfgis the water latent heat of vaporization. For convenience, it is computed at 60oF (or 15oC).
From the steam tables, this corresponds to 1060 Btu/lb (or 2465.7 kJ/kg).

 The total heat transfer rate for this process is Q = Q s + Q l

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 14/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

At a summer day, air enters a window air conditioner at 14.696 psi, 97oF, and 70% relative
humidity at a rate of 370 cfm. The air leaves the AC at 68oF while the condensed moisture
is removed and directed outside the system. Using the psychrometric chart:
(a) Determine the rate of sensible and latent heat of the AC unit in Btu/h.
(b) Calculate the coil refrigeration load in tons.
(c) Determine the rate of moisture removed during this process.
(d) Resolve parts (a), (b) and (c) using the mathematical relations.

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 15/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-5-3 Heating with Humidification

 When the relative humidity falls below the comfort level in the winter, it causes dry skin,
breathing difficulties and increase in static electricity.

 Humidification can be accomplished by two methods:

 Injecting steam.

 Spraying water.

 Notethe real process lines and how they can be represented by only one straight line
connecting states 1 and 2.

 Mass balance:

Dry air: m
 a1 m=
=  ax m=
 a 2 m a

m w m w
Water: m v 1 +m w =
m v 2 ⇒ W1+ W2
= ⇒ W 2 −W 1
=
m a m a

 Using the energy balance equation to derive an equation for the heating capacity (i.e. coil
load):

Q = m a ( h2 − h1 ) + m a (W1 − W2 ) hw

 Inthe case of adiabatic humidification (i.e. humidifier without heating section), state x is
eliminated and the energy balance becomes:

Q = m a ( h2 − h1 ) − (W2 − W1 ) hw  ⇒ ( h2 − h1 ) = (W2 − W1 ) hw

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 16/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

In a winter day, a 45 m3/min of cold air at 16oC and 20% relative humidity needs to be
heated and humidified in an air-conditioning system such that it leaves at 46oC and 30%
relative humidity. Saturated steam at 100oC is injected during the humidification process.
Determine:
(a) The rate of water injected to accomplish this humidification process.
(b) The required heat transfer rate.

Using the psychrometric chart:

T1 = 16o C  3
State 1: = kJ/kga , ν 1 0.822 m=
 ⇒ h1 21.8 = /kga , W 1 0.00224 kgv /kga
φ1 = 20% 

T 2 = 46o C 
State 2: =  ⇒ h2 95.9 kJ/kg
= a , W2 0.0192 kgv /kga
φ2 = 0.3% 

Tw = 100o C 
Injected steam: 2676.1 kJ/kg
 ⇒ hw = (From steam tables)
Sat. Vapor 

V 45 1 min
m a =1 = × 0.9124 kga /s
=
ν 1 0.822 60 s

The rate of water injected can be determined from the mass balance equation:

) 0.9124 ( 0.0192 − 0.00224 ) =

m w= m a (W 2 −W 1= 0.0155 kgv /s

To determine hx , we apply the energy balance on the humidifying section:

Q = m a ha 2 + m v 2 hv 2 − m a hax − m vx hvx − m w hw

⇒ ( ha 2 +W 2 hv 2 ) − ( hax +W x hvx ) − ( m w / m a ) hw = 0 ⇒ h2 − hx − (W 2 −W 1 ) hw = 0

⇒ hx =h2 − (W 2 −W 1 ) hw =
95.9 − ( 0.0192 − 0.00224 ) 2676.1 =
50.51 kJ/kga

Since the humidification process is adiabatic, all the heat is added in the heating section:

Q m a ( hx − h=
= 1 ) 0.9124 ( 50.51 − 21.8
= ) 26.2 kW

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 17/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-5-4 Adiabatic Mixing of Two Airstreams

 Itis common in large buildings such as hospitals and factories to mix the return air with some
outdoor air.

 This process is usually occurs under steady and adiabatic conditions.

 Combining the mass balance equations for dry air and water along with the energy balance
equation yields the governing equation for the adiabatic mixing between two airstreams:

h2 − h3 W2 − W3 m a1
= =
h3 − h1 W3 − W1 m a 2

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 18/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-6 SPACE COOLING LOAD & COOLING COIL LOAD

 Whatdo the following states represent? Outdoor state, Supply state, Space state, Mixed state,
and Return state.

Space
heat gain

 Spaceheat gain ≡ it is the rate at which heat enters a conditioned space from internal and
external sources.

 What are the components of this heat gain?

 Space cooling load ≡ it is the rate at which heat must be removed from a conditioned space
such that it is maintained at the designed temperature and humidity.

 Coolingcoil load (i.e cooling capacity of the AC system) ≡ it is the rate at which heat is
removed from the moist air by the cooling unit to meet the supply conditions.

 Thecooling coil load is also known as the cooling capacity of the AC equipment. Most of the
time it is simply referred to as the cooling load.

 What is the importance of the space cooling load and the coil load?

 The cooling coil load consists of four components.

2-7 SENSIBLE HEAT FACTOR

 SensibleHeat Factor SHF ≡ the ratio of the sensible heat transfer to the total heat transfer
for a process.

Q Q
SHF =  s  = s
Qs + Ql Q

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 19/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

An air-conditioning system supplies 0.708 m3/s of conditioned air at 12oC and 90% relative
humidity to a space that needs to be maintained at 24oC. If the space has a sensible heat
factor of 0.8, determine:
(a) The space load.
(b) Show the space load process on the psychrometric chart.

T1 = 12o C 
Supply state (state 1): =  ⇒ h1 31.88
= m3 /kga , W 1 0.00785 kgv /kga
kJ/kga , ν 1 0.818 =
φ1 = 90% 

V1 0.708
m=
a = = 0.8655 kga /s
ν 1 0.818

A line is drawn on the protractor through a value of 0.8on the SHF scale. A parallel line is then
drawn from the initial state, 12o C and 90% RH, to the intersection of the 24o C line, which defines
the final state. ⇒ h2 = 47.5 kJ/kga

 m ( h − h=
Space cooling load Q
= a 2 1 ) 0.8655 ( 47.5 − 31.88 ) =
13.52 kW

Space sensible heat gain

= Qs (=
SHF )Q (13.52 ) 10.82 kW
0.8=

Space latent heat gain Ql =Q − Qs =13.52 − 10.82 = 2.7 kW

An alternative approach without using the protractor can be used. An intermediate state 3 is
defined such that T=
3 T=
2 24o C and W= 1 0.00785.
3 W=

Q=
s m a ( h3 − h1=
) m aC p (T 3 −T1=) 0.8655 (1.02 )( 24 − 12=) 10.59 kW

Q =Qs / SHF =10.6 / 0.8 =13.24 kW ⇒ Ql =Q − Qs =13.24 − 10.59 = 2.65 kW

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 20/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

An air-conditioning system maintains a space at 78oF, 65oF. The total heat gain to the space
is 60,000 Btu/h, of which 42,000 Btu/h is sensible. According to the nature of the space,
500 cfm of outdoor air, which is at 90oF and 55% RH, must be used. If the conditioned air
is supplied to the space at 58oF, determine:
(a) The required volume flow rate of the supply air.
(b) The coil load of the AC unit in tons (i.e. cooling capacity).
(c) The sensible heat rate of the cooling coil.
(d) The ventilation load.

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 21/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-8 CONTACT FACTOR & BYPASS FACTOR

 The coil cannot cool all the supply air passing through it to the coil surface temperature.

In
Out

 Contact factor CF ≡ the portion of air passing through the coil and touches the coil surface
(i.e. contact air), and is thus cooled.

 Bypass factor BF ≡ the portion of air that does not touch the coil surface (i.e. bypass air), and
it is therefore not cooled.

 It follows from the these definitions that CF + BF = 1

 The temperature of the outside surface of a cooling coil is not the same at all places along the
coil tubing.

 An average coil surface temperature can be considered. It is called the apparatus dew point
temperature Td of the cooling coil.

 The apparatus dew point temperature can be determined when we extend the coil cooling line
on the psychrometric chart. Td is the point where this line intersects the saturation curve.

 This makes the coil process simulates an adiabatic mixing process between saturated air at Td
(i.e. contact air) and unchanged passing air (bypass air) at T1. The mixed airstream is the
actual conditioned supply air at T2.

 Applying the adiabatic mixing relations on the coil process line:

Tentering the coil − Tleaving the coil T1 − T2

CF = =
Tentering the coil − Td T1 − Td

Tleaving the coil − Td T2 − Td

BF = =
Tentering the coil − Td T1 − Td

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 22/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

Determine the contact factor for the cooling coil considered in the previous example.

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 23/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

2-9 HEAT GAIN BY SUPPLY FANS & RETURN FANS

 Theflow of air along a duct results in the airstream suffering a loss of energy (i.e. pressure
drop).

 Tomaintain the flow, a fan must be used to make up for this energy loss (i.e. pressure drop).
This usage is more evident at the supply and return systems.

 The utilization of fans in the supply and return systems adds heat to the airstream which must
be taken into account in the coil load calculations. Why?

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 24/25
Dr. Saad Alabduljalil Kuwait University
ME 424 Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Mechanical Engineering Department

EXAMPLE

Consider the same AC system in the previous examples with a more realistic situation.
Assume a temperature rise of 4oF for the supply fan, and 1oF for the return fan.
(a) Calculate the required coil load of the AC system in tons.
(b) Analyze the components of the coil load and their percentages.

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Ch. 2 Moist Air & Psychrometrics 25/25