Topics III:

Air Conditioning
ME 429 Topics 3
Mechanical Engineering Department
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure

It states that the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the
partial pressures of the gases in the mixture.

In terms of equations:

𝑃𝑡 = 𝑃𝐷𝐴 + 𝑃𝑊𝑉

Pda + Pwv 𝑉𝑡 = 𝑉𝑁𝐶 = 𝑉𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑 = 𝑉𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟

DA+ WV 𝑇𝑡 = 𝑇𝑁𝐶 = 𝑇𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑

NC + Cond
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Temperature – Pressure Relationship

One thing to practice and to understand in studying air properties are the relationship between the
pressure and temperatures of Air.

We already know the different types of pressure that exists in air but there are other properties to
consider; This table will summarize the pressure and temperature relationship.

Pressure Temperature

PV Psat @ tdp (dew point)

Pdb Psat @ tdb (dry bulb)

Tair = Tdb (dry bulb)

Pa or Pda can only be solved using Dalton’s Law Equation
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Humidity Ratio

The ratio of the mass of water vapor to the mass of dry air. It is also known as moisture content, mixing
ratio, or specific humidity.

Formula:

𝑚𝑣 0.622 𝑃𝑣
𝑆𝐻 = 𝑆𝐻 =
𝑚𝑎 𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑣

where:
𝑚𝑣 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑟
𝑚𝑎 = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑖𝑟
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Relative Humidity

The ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor in the air to the saturation pressure corresponding to the
temperature of the air.

Formula:

𝑃𝑣
𝑅𝐻 = 𝑥 100%
𝑃𝑑𝑏

where:
𝑃𝑣 = 𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑤 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑡𝑑𝑝 )
𝑃𝑑𝑏 = 𝑆𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑦 − 𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑏 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 (𝑡𝑑𝑏 )
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Specific Volume

The number of cubic meter of mixture per kilogram of air.

Formula:

𝑅𝑎 𝑇𝑎
𝑣𝑎 =
𝑃𝑎

where:
𝑇𝑎 = 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟 (𝑇𝑑𝑏 )
𝑘𝐽
𝑅𝑎 = 0.28708
𝑘𝑔 − 𝐾
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Enthalpy

The enthalpy of the mixture of dry air and water vapor is the sum of the enthalpy of the dry air and the
enthalpy of the water vapor.
Formula:

ℎ = 𝑐𝑝𝑎 𝑡𝑑𝑏 + 𝑆𝐻 ℎ𝑔

where:
𝑐𝑝𝑎 = 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 1.0062 𝑘𝐽Τ𝑘𝑔 − 𝐾

ℎ𝑔 = 𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑟 = ℎ𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑑𝑏

 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Degree of Saturation

The ratio of the air humidity ratio to the humidity ratio of saturated air at that temperature. Also called
Saturation Ratio/Percentage Humidity
Formula:
𝑃
𝑆𝐻𝑉 0.622 𝑃 −𝑣 𝑃 𝑃𝑣 𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑑𝑏
𝑡 𝑣 𝑈=
𝑈= 𝑈=
𝑆𝐻𝑑𝑎 𝑃 𝑃𝑑𝑏 𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑣
0.622 𝑃 −𝑑𝑏𝑃
𝑡 𝑑𝑏

𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑑𝑏
𝑈 = 𝑅. 𝐻.
𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑣
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Degree of Saturation

The ratio of the air humidity ratio to the humidity ratio of saturated air at that temperature. Also called
Saturation Ratio/Percentage Humidity
Formula:
𝑃
0.622 𝑃 −𝑣 𝑃 𝑃𝑣 𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑑𝑏
𝑆𝐻𝑉 𝑡 𝑣 𝑈=
𝑈= 𝑈= 𝑃𝑑𝑏 𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑣
𝑃
𝑆𝐻𝑑𝑎 0.622 𝑃 −𝑑𝑏𝑃
𝑡 𝑑𝑏

𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑑𝑏
𝑈 = 𝑅. 𝐻.
𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑣
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Empirical formulas
These are formulas used to determine air properties if wet-bulb temperature is given:

Carrier’s Equation:

𝑃𝑇 − 𝑃𝑤𝑏 𝑡𝑑𝑏 − 𝑡𝑤𝑏

𝑃𝑣 = 𝑃𝑤𝑏 −
2800 − 1.3(𝑡𝑤𝑏 )

where:
Pressures must be in psi
Temperatures must be in °F
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Empirical formulas
These are formulas used to determine air properties if wet-bulb temperature is given:

I.H.V.E Equation:

𝑃𝑣 = 𝑃𝑤𝑏 − 6.66 𝑥 10−4 𝑃𝑇 𝑡𝑑𝑏 − 𝑡𝑤𝑏

where:
Pressures must be in kPa
Temperatures must be in °C
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Latent heat in Air Conditioning

First, we begin by defining latent heat, it is a type of Equation:
energy/heat energy that involves a change of phase of
the substance. Therefore, we can say that it is the 𝑄𝐿 = 𝑚𝑑𝑎 (𝑆𝐻 𝑥 ℎ𝑠 )
required energy to transform the substance from once
phase to another (Liquid to Vapor) where:
𝑄𝐿 = latent heat (kJ/s or kJ)
Dry air at normal temperature & pressure are non- 𝑚𝑑𝑎 = mass of dry air (kg/s or kg)
𝑆𝐻 = Specific humidity (kgv/kga)
condensable, thus for practical purposes the latent heat
ℎ𝑠 = specific enthalpy of wet vapor in air
in the air is the latent heat of the water vapor contained = hg @ tdp of air in kJ/kgv (steam table)
in air. Therefore, we can say that the “Latent heat in any
given quantity of air depends on the mass of the water NOTE:
Air = Dry Air + Wet Vapor
vapor in the air”
𝑄𝑇 = 𝑄𝐿 + 𝑄𝑆
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Sample Problem – Latent heat

Compute the latent heat of 20 kg air having a dry-bulb temperature of 40 °C and dew-point temperature of
15 °C. Assume standard air condition.

Solution: 0.622 (0.0017051 𝑀𝑃𝑎)

𝑆𝐻 =
0.101325 𝑀𝑃𝑎 − 0.0017051 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑄𝐿 = 𝑚𝑑𝑎 (𝑆𝐻 𝑥 ℎ𝑠 )
𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝑠 = ℎ𝑔 @ 𝑡𝑑𝑝 = 15 °𝐶 = 2528.9 (𝑆. 𝑇. ) 𝑆𝐻 = 0.0106 𝑘𝑔𝑣 Τ𝑘𝑔𝑎
𝑘𝑔
𝑄𝐿 = 20 𝑘𝑔 (0.0106 𝑘𝑔𝑣 Τ𝑘𝑔𝑎 𝑥 2528.9 𝑘𝐽Τ𝑘𝑔𝑣 )
0.622 𝑃𝑣 From Steam table:
𝑆𝐻 = 𝑃𝑣 = 𝑃𝑠𝑎𝑡 @ 𝑡𝑑𝑝15 ℃ = 0.0017051 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑃𝑡 − 𝑃𝑣 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐵 = 0.101325 𝑀𝑃𝑎
𝑄𝐿 = 536.1268 𝑘𝐽
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Sample Problem – Latent heat

But hg @ tdp is the enthalpy at saturation and does not include the sensible heat of vapor thus for more
accurate competition.

Solution: 𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝑠 = 2575.9
ℎ𝑠 = ℎ𝑔 + 𝑐𝑝𝑤𝑣 (𝑡𝑑𝑏 − 𝑡𝑑𝑝 ) 𝑘𝑔

𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝑠 = ℎ𝑔 @ 𝑡𝑑𝑝 = 15 °𝐶 = 2528.9 (𝑆. 𝑇. ) 𝑄𝐿 = 𝑚𝑑𝑎 (𝑆𝐻 𝑥 ℎ𝑠 )
𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽 𝑄𝐿 = 20 𝑘𝑔 (0.0106 𝑘𝑔𝑣 Τ𝑘𝑔𝑎 𝑥 2575.9 𝑘𝐽Τ𝑘𝑔𝑣 )
𝑐𝑝𝑤𝑣 = 1.88
𝑘𝑔 − 𝐾
𝑄𝐿 = 546.0908 𝑘𝐽
𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝑠 = 2528.9 + 1.88 40 − 15 ℃
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 − 𝐾
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Sample Problem – Latent heat

If the steam table is not available. A convenient empirical equation for determining the enthalpy of the
low-pressure, low-temperature steam and is used for practical computation.

Solution: 𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝑠 = 2577.2
ℎ𝑠 = ℎ𝑔 + 𝑐𝑝𝑤𝑣 (𝑡𝑑𝑏 ) 𝑘𝑔

𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝑔 = 2501 (𝑆. 𝑇. ) 𝑄𝐿 = 𝑚𝑑𝑎 (𝑆𝐻 𝑥 ℎ𝑠 )
𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝐽 𝑄𝐿 = 20 𝑘𝑔 (0.0106 𝑘𝑔𝑣 Τ𝑘𝑔𝑎 𝑥 2577.2 𝑘𝐽Τ𝑘𝑔𝑣 )
𝑐𝑝𝑤𝑣 = 1.88
𝑘𝑔 − 𝐾
𝑄𝐿 = 546.3664 𝑘𝐽
𝑘𝐽 𝑘𝐽
ℎ𝑠 = 2501 + 1.88 40 ℃
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔 − 𝐾
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Processes in Air Conditioning

The common processes involved in air conditioning are at practically constant pressures and can be
illustrated by lines on a psychrometric chart.
Processes:
Process 0-1: Sensible Heating
Process 0-2: Sensible Cooling
Process 0-3: Humidifying
3
7 5 Process 0-4: Dehumidifying
Process 0-5: Heating and humidifying
2 1
Process 0-6: Cooling and dehumidifying

6 Process 0-7: Cooling and humidifying

8
4
Process 0-8: Heating and dehumidifying
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Air Mixing

When air at one condition is mixed with

air at another condition, the condition of m1
the final mixture can be shown on the
psychrometric chart by a point on the
line joining the points indication the
original condition. The exact location of m3

the final point will depend upon the

masses of the original air quantities
m2
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Sample Problem
The density of air at 35 °C and 101 kPa is 1.05 kg/m3. The humidity ratio is:
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Sample Problem
What is the specific volume of an air-vapor mixture at 30 °C and a relative humidity of 45% at 101.325 kPa?
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Sample Problem
A stream of outdoor air is mixed with a steam of return air in an air conditioning system that operates at
101 kPa pressure. The flow rate of outdoor system air is 2 kgs and its condition is 35 °C dry-bulb
temperature and 25 °C wet-bulb temperature. The flow rate of return air is 3 kg/s and its condition is 24 °C
and 50% relative humidity. Determine the enthalpy of the mixture.
 ME 429 Topics III
Module Topic: Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Sample Problem
How much heat and moisture must be added to 28 m3/min. of air at 24 °C and 40% relative humidity to
raise it to 38 °C dry bulb and 27 °C wet bulb temperatures