1. Examples on using Psychart -- The digital psychrometric software
Wei Fang, Ph.D., Professor
Dept. of Bio-Industrial Mechatronics Engineering
National Taiwan University

2. Properties of the moist air
Moist air at standard atmospheric pressure (Patm) is at 20 degree C dry-bulb temperature (Tdb) and 50 % relative humidity (RH). What is the humidity ratio (absolute humidity, AH), degree of saturation (DOS), dew point temperature (Tdp), enthalpy (h), and wet bulb temperature (Twb) of the moist air ?

3. Set the atmospheric pressure Patm

6. Properties of the moist air
Continuing with problem 1, what is the wet bulb depression (WBD) and what is the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) ?

7. WBD = Tdb – Twb = 20 – = 6.21 deg. C

8. VPD = Pws – Pw = – = 1.17 kPa

9. Dry-bulb temperature (Tdb) and relative humidity (RH) in greenhouse
Tdb, deg.C
RHmin
(Activate fogging system if below this value)
Proper RH
RHmax (severe disease problem might occurred if higher than this value) 15 -
50 % 73 20 46 64 80 25 60 86 30 70 89

10. Vapor Pressure Deficit
VPD is a better index
Vapor Pressure Deficit

11. VPD 1.25 kPa 0.85 < 0.45 < 0.20 VPD too large Proper VPD
(activate fogging system)
Proper VPD
range
VPD too low
(good for bacterial) (activate heating or dehumidification)
VPD too low (might cause severe disease problem)
1.25
kPa
0.85
< 0.45
< 0.20

12. T, RH and VPD in a Greenhouse located in Taiwan
Relative humidity, %
VPD, kPa
Temperature, deg.C

13. Properties of the moist air
Fill the following blanks. #1 #2 #3 #4
Atmospheric pressure, kPa
89.874
Dry-bulb T, deg.C 20
-10
Relative humidity, % 50 80
Humidity ratio, kg/kg
Dew point T, deg.C
Wet bulb T, deg.C
Specific volume, m3/kg

15. A bug was found in the software.
Twb should vary according to Patm.

17. Psychrometric Process
Determine the final state of moist air originally at 20 deg.C and 50 % relative humidity if 10 kJ are removed from 1.2 kg of the air.

18. Answer to Problem 4  h =q/Ma = (-10 kJ)/(1.2 kg) = - 8.333 kJ/kg
 T = q/(Ma*Cp)=(-10 kJ)/(1.2 kg*1.006 kJ/kg.K)= K
The final dry bulb T will be 20 – 8.28 = deg.C if this is a sensible heating process.
The dew point T of moist air at initial state = 9.15 deg.C
The final dry bulb T > the dew point T of initial state, this is a sensible cooling process.
 h =q/Ma = (-10 kJ)/(1.2 kg) = kJ/kg
The initial h = 38.5 kJ/kg
The final h = – = kJ/kg
The initial dew point T = final dew point T.
Final state can be found based on final Tdb and Tdp, or Tdb and h, or Tdp and h

19. State 2 was determined based on Tdb and H
H = – = kJ/kg
Diff. of Tdp should be 0.

20. State 2 was determined based on Tdb and Tdp
H = kJ/kg which is a little bit off from 8.33 kJ/kg, also Diff. of AH should be 0.

21. Psychrometric Process
Determine the final state of moist air originally at 20 deg.C and 50 % relative humidity if 20 kJ are removed from 1.2 kg of the air.

22. Answer to Problem 5
 T = q/(Ma*Cp)=(-20kJ)/(1.2kg*1.006kJ/kg.K)= K
The final T will be 20 – = 3.44 deg.C if this is a sensible heating process.
The dew point T of moist air at initial state = 9.1 deg.C
The final dry bulb T < dew point at initial state, this is a cooling with condensation/dehumidification process.
The final relative humidity is 100 %.
 h =q/Ma = (-20 kJ)/(1.2 kg) = kJ/kg
The initial h = kJ/kg
The final h = – = kJ/kg

23. State 2 can be determined based on RH and H,
however, this software does not provide this option. We need to use trial and error method on Tdb of state 2 to derive H = kJ/kg..

24. Psychrometric Process
Greenhouse in tropical and subtropical regions often encounter high humidity problem. For some floral industries, dehumidifier is used in the greenhouses. Assuming the night time Tdb and RH in a 3 m height 1000 m2 greenhouse before turn on the dehumidifier is 18 degree C, 91 % respectively. After turn on the dehumidifier for a while, the Tdb remain the same and RH drop to 80 %. How much water was removed from the moist air inside this greenhouse ?

26. Answer to Problem 6 Before use After use Difference in AH
Specific volume = m3/kg
AH = kg vapor/kg dry air
After use
AH = kg vapor/kg dry air
Difference in AH
AH1 – AH2 = kg vapor/kg dry air
Air volume 1000 x 3 = 3000 m3
Air weight = 3000 / = kg
Total water condensed = * = kg

27. Psychrometric Process
Air at 30 deg.C and 60% relative humidity in a growth chamber is cycled past the cooling coils and is returned back to the chamber at a temperature of 15 deg.C. Determine the psychrometric properties of the air after it is cooled, the sensible and latent heat removed, and the water vapor condensed per kg of dry air moved past the coils.

28. Growth Chamber
30 deg.C
60 % relative humidity
Cooler
15 deg.C

29. 29.16 kJ/kg is the total heat removed, including the sensible heat and the latent heat.

30. 15.378 kJ/kg is the sensible heat removed

31. 13.782 kJ/kg is the latent heat removed
kg/kg dry air is the amount of water removed
13.782/ = kg/kg dry air is the amount of water removed based on Hfg.

32. Psychrometric Process
When ambient conditions are 35 deg.C and 25 % relative humidity, (a). determine the dry bulb temperature to which ventilation air could be cooled if drawn through an evaporative cooler with an efficiency of 75%. (b). Calculate how much water must be added to each cubic meter of the air drawn through the cooler. (c). Redo problem 7(a) with the ambient conditions at 35 deg.C and 80 % relative humidity.

33. (a). At the given condition:
Answer to problem 8
(a). At the given condition:
Tdb = 35 deg.C
RH = 25 % (Very dry weather)
Answer
Twb = deg.C
WBD = 35 – = deg.C
T = 0.75 * WBD = deg.C
Final T = 35 – = deg.C

34. WBD

35. (c). At the given condition:
Answer to problem 8
(c). At the given condition:
Tdb = 35 deg.C
RH=80 % (Regular humid weather)
Answer
Twb = deg.C
WBD = 35 – = 3.36
T = 0.75 * WBD = 2.52 deg.C
Final T = 35 – 2.52 = deg.C

36. WBD

37. Answer to problem 8 (b). At initial conditions, Answer Tdb = 35 deg.C
RH = 25 %
Answer
the specific volume is m3/kg, humidity ratio is kg/kg of dry air.
At wet bulb of and dry bulb of 23.87, the humidity ratio is kg/kg of dry air.
A cubic meter of air will contain 1 m3/ m3/kg = 1.13 kg.
The change of humidity ratio is – = kg/kg dry air.
Thus, the total water gained by each cubic meter of outdoor air will be 1.13 kg * kg/kg = kg.

38. A small bug was found in the software. Both Twb should be the same.

39. Psychrometric Process
A ventilation system for a calf nursery draws 1 m3/s of air from the nursery, exhausts 0.2 m3/s of the air to the outside, and replaces the exhausted air with fresh air. Air in the nursery is at 20 deg.C and 50 % relative humidity, and outdoor air is at 5 deg.C and 80 % relative humidity. Determine properties of the mixed air when it is returned to the nursery.

40.    #1 #2 #3 T, deg.C 5 20 16.86 (cal.) RH, % 80 50 53.37 (psychart)
1 m3/s
Calf Nursery
20 deg.C,
50 % relative humidity
Outdoors
0.2 m3/s 
5 deg.C
80 % relative humidity  
Mixing chamber #1 #2 #3
T, deg.C 5 20
16.86 (cal.)
RH, % 80 50
53.37 (psychart)
V, m3/s
0.2
0.8
0.999
, m3/kg
0.7935
0.8402
0.83
M, kg/s
0.252
0.952
1.204
W, kg/kg
0.0043
0.0073
(cal.) / (psychart)
h, kJ/kg
15.859
38.545
(cal.) / (psychart)
T3 = (M1*T1+M2*T2)/(M1+M2)
W3 = (M1*W1+M2*W2)/(M1+M2)
h3 = (M1*h1+M2*h2)/(M1+M2)

41. State 3

43. Psychrometric Process
You are designing an evaporative cooling system to ventilate a controlled environment, totally enclosed, poultry house in a hot and dry climate.
Summer design weather conditions for your location are 40 degree C Tdb and 20 % RH.
75 m3/s of outdoor air will be drawn by the evaporative cooling system (75% efficiency) and 15 m3/s of outdoor air will be drawn into the house through infiltration.
The birds in the house are expected to produce 250 kW of total heat of which 40% is latent heat. Determine
the psychrometric properties of the air mixed by air through evaporative cooling pad and air through infiltration.
the psychrometric properties of the exhausted air.
the volumetric flow rate of air exhausted from the house.
the rate (L/s) at which water must be supplied to the evaporative cooling pads by a water pump. When a (water flow/evaporation rate) ratio of 3 is desire.

44. 75 m3/s 4 3 1 2
15 m3/s
Evaporative cooler
infiltration
Poultry House

45. = 16.66, = 86.3, = kg/s
T3 = ( * T * T2) / = deg. C
W3 =( * W * W2) / = kg/kg
State 3
Zoom out
State 2
State 1

46. Evaporative cooler = 15 m3/s 1 = 0. 9003 m3/kg = 16.66 kg/s
T1 = 40 deg. C
RH1 = 20 %
W1 = kg/kg
T4 = T3 + T = = deg. C
W4 = W3 + W = = kg/kg
Poultry House
infiltration 1
T3 = deg. C
W3 = kg/kg
= kg/s 3 4
100 kW latent
150 kW sensible heat
Evaporative cooler
T = 150 / ( * Cp) = 150 / (102.96*1.006) = deg. C
hfg = 2501 – 2.42 * ( ) = 2428 kJ/kg
W= 100 / ( * hfg) = 100 / ( * 2428) = kg/kg 2
= 75 m3/s
2 = m3/kg
= 86.3 kg/s
T2 = deg. C
RH2 = 67.1 %
W2 = kg/kg

47. The volumetric flow rate and properties of states 3 and 4
Zoom in to the limit.

48. the rate (L/s) at which water must be supplied to the cooling pad = 3
the rate (L/s) at which water must be supplied to the cooling pad = 3 * ( – ) * 75 / = kg /s

49. Reference
Albright, L.D Chapter 2 – Psychrometrics. Environment Control for Animals and Plants. An ASAE Textbook. ASAE, St. Joseph, MI, USA.