INSTITUTION: DEDAN KIMATHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

COURSE: BSC. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

UNIT NAME: ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS II

UNIT CODE: EMG 3104

REPORT TITLE: PSYCHROMETRIC CHARTS

LECTURER’S NAME: Dr. JOHN MBURU

LAB TECHNOLOGIST:

EXPERIMENT DATE: 12TH JULY 2023

SUBMISSION DATE: 04/08/2023

GROUP MEMBERS:

NAME REGISTRATION NO. SIGNATURE

JAMES MAKAU E023-01-1445/2021

JOSEPH NYAGAH E023-01-1467/2021

PETER KYALO E023-01-1454/2021

MBURU JOSEPH MWANGI E023-01-1455/2021

ABSTRACT
This lab experiment is carried out by performing an exercise on psychrometric charts. The main
objectives of the exercise are to:
● Investigate and understand the use of psychrometric charts
● Understand relative humidity (RH) measurements and the effect of temperature on RH
● Understand the Humidity Ratio
The method used to undertake this experiment is by changing the conditions of the air entering a
duct and looking at the changes in RH, temperature and humidity ratio by using a psychrometric
chart and computerized calculations.
The results of the experiment are generated in a table and the results of T and RH at each of the
four duct positions recorded. The values of Humidity Ratio (x), Enthalpy (h) and Specific
volume (v) at each of the four duct positions are estimated from the psychrometric chart. The
estimates are then compared with the values of x, h and in the table generated by the software.

INTRODUCTION
Psychrometry is a branch of engineering that deals with the study of air and its properties,
particularly its moisture content. It plays a crucial role in various fields such as HVAC (Heating,
Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems, meteorology, agriculture, and industrial processes.
Understanding the principles of psychrometry is essential for designing efficient and comfortable
indoor environments, as well as for optimizing various industrial processes involving air.
Thermodynamics, on the other hand, is the science that deals with the study of energy and its
transformations within a system. In the context of psychrometry, thermodynamics is utilized to
understand the behavior of moist air and the energy exchange that occurs during processes
involving air-water vapor mixtures.
The key properties studied in psychrometry include dry-bulb temperature, wet-bulb temperature,
dew point temperature, relative humidity, and specific humidity. These properties help in
characterizing the state of the air-water vapor mixture and enable the determination of important
parameters related to air quality and heat transfer. Relative humidity relates to dry bulb and
the wet bulb temperature, when system pressure is 1 atmosphere, assuming ideal-gas mixture
by Equation (1).
𝐹 = 𝑃𝑣/𝑃𝑔
Where F= Relative Humidity (RH)
Pv = Partial Pressure (Water Vapor)
Pg = Saturation Pressure (Water @ T)
T = Dry bulb temp (air-water mixture)
.
By the end of this lab, the aim is to have a comprehensive understanding of psychrometry and
its applications in the field of thermodynamics. Through this experiment and data analysis, we
will gain insights into the behavior of moist air and how it can be controlled and manipulated for
practical purposes.
It is important to note that accurate psychrometric measurements are critical for numerous
industries and applications. Engineers and scientists in the HVAC, agriculture, and
manufacturing sectors rely on these principles to design efficient systems and maintain optimal
conditions for human comfort and process efficiency.
In the following sections, we will describe the experimental setup, methodology, and data
analysis performed during the lab to achieve the stated objectives. Through this exploration of
psychrometry and thermodynamics, we aim to enhance our knowledge and practical skills in
dealing with air-water vapor mixtures and their associated properties.

Objective
To investigate and understand the use of psychrometric charts, understand relative humidity
(RH) measurements and the effect of temperature on RH and understand the Humidity Ratio.

METHODOLOGY
Equipment:
● RA2 Air Conditioning Unit
● Compatible PC
● RA2 Software

Optional Equipment:
Barometer for measuring local ambient pressure (if not available then some alternative is
required, such as a local weather report or an appropriate default value).
Equipment Set Up:
The boiler is not required for this exercise and need not be filled.
Ensure that the equipment and PC have been set up as described in the installation guide, and
that the PC is connected and switched on with the RA2 software running. The software should
indicate ‘IFDVCM (No.): OK’ in the bottom right of the software window, and the red and green
USB indicator lights on the electrical console should be illuminated.
Check that the RCCD (circuit breaker) on the electrical console is in the up (OFF) position.
Check that the sensor readings in the software indicate reasonable values.

Procedure
Switched on the fan to 40%, set PID1 to control T2 at 280°C. Set PID3 to control T4 at 200°C.
Switched the chiller on. (These values were suitable for typical ambient temperatures in the
laboratory around 21°C. They could be raised or lowered to suit the actual laboratory
conditions.)
Checked that the preheat element on the mimic diagram changed between grey and red to
indicate the times during which power was being supplied to the heater. Checked that the preheat
temperature sensor rose then stabilized at approximately the set temperature.
Checked that the velocity sensor reading in the software increased.
Allowed the system to stabilize for approximately 15 minutes.
Selected the {GO} icon to record the sensor readings in the results table.

RESULTS ANALYSIS
 Atmospheri
Elapsed Sample Notes Relative Temp
c
Time Number Humidity
Pressure
RH1 T1
P
[%] [°C]
[kPa]
00:00 1 101.3 64.3 22.2
00:10 2 101.3 64.1 22.2
00:20 3 101.3 64.9 22.2
00:30 4 101.3 64.6 22.1
00:40 5 101.3 64.6 22.1
00:50 6 101.3 64.6 22.1
01:00 7 101.3 64.7 22.1
01:10 8 101.3 64.8 22.1
01:20 9 101.3 64.2 22.1
01:30 10 101.3 64.5 22.1
01:40 11 101.3 64.7 22.1
01:50 12 101.3 64.5 22.1
02:00 13 101.3 66.4 22.1
02:10 14 101.3 65.4 22.3
02:20 15 101.3 64.8 22.4
02:30 16 101.3 64.7 22.5
02:40 17 101.3 64.7 22.6
02:50 18 101.3 63.8 22.6
03:00 19 101.3 63.5 22.7
03:10 20 101.3 63.4 22.7
03:20 21 101.3 62.7 22.7
03:30 22 101.3 63.0 22.7
03:40 23 101.3 62.6 22.7
03:50 24 101.3 63.7 22.6
04:00 25 101.3 62.8 22.6
04:10 26 101.3 62.7 22.5
04:20 27 101.3 63.2 22.5
04:30 28 101.3 62.7 22.5
04:40 29 101.3 62.8 22.5
04:50 30 101.3 63.6 22.5
05:00 31 101.3 63.9 22.5
05:10 32 101.3 63.1 22.4
Relative Temp Relative Temp Relative Temp
Humidity Humidity Humidity
RH2 T2 RH3 T3 RH4 T4
[%] [°C] [%] [°C] [%] [°C]

64.1 28.0 100.0 12.7 81.2 19.9

64.4 27.8 100.0 12.7 80.9 20.0
65.1 27.8 100.0 12.7 81.6 19.8
64.8 27.8 100.0 12.8 81.4 20.0
64.9 27.7 100.0 12.7 81.5 19.8
65.0 27.9 100.0 12.8 81.8 19.8
64.5 27.9 100.0 12.8 82.5 19.9
63.8 28.0 100.0 12.8 82.2 19.9
64.0 27.9 100.0 12.8 81.9 20.0
64.2 28.0 100.0 12.8 81.6 19.7
63.4 28.0 100.0 12.8 81.9 19.7
63.8 28.0 100.0 12.8 82.3 19.8
64.1 28.0 100.0 12.8 82.6 19.7
64.6 28.2 100.0 12.8 82.2 19.8
64.1 28.1 100.0 12.7 81.6 19.7
64.2 28.2 100.0 12.7 80.9 19.6
64.0 28.2 100.0 12.7 81.1 19.6
64.2 28.2 100.0 12.7 81.2 19.6
64.7 28.1 100.0 12.8 81.6 19.7
63.8 28.1 100.0 12.8 82.6 19.8
64.6 28.1 100.0 12.8 81.8 19.9
63.5 28.0 100.0 12.9 82.3 19.9
63.5 28.0 100.0 12.9 81.8 20.0
64.1 28.0 100.0 12.8 81.3 20.0
63.7 27.9 100.0 12.8 81.7 20.1
63.8 28.0 100.0 12.8 81.4 20.1
63.6 27.9 100.0 12.8 81.4 20.1
63.9 28.0 100.0 12.8 81.1 20.1
63.2 28.0 100.0 12.8 80.9 20.2
63.6 28.0 100.0 12.8 80.3 20.1
63.9 28.0 100.0 12.7 80.1 20.2
63.3 28.0 100.0 12.7 79.7 20.1
Saturation Humidity Enthalpy Specific Saturation Humidity
Pressure Ratio of Mixture Volume Pressure Ratio
Ps(T1) x1 h1 V1 Ps(T)2 x2
[Pa] [kJ/kg] [m³/kg] [Pa]

2674 0.0109 49.93 0.851 3775 0.0154

2674 0.0109 49.86 0.851 3749 0.0154
2674 0.0110 50.18 0.851 3749 0.0156
2661 0.0109 49.86 0.850 3749 0.0155
2661 0.0109 49.86 0.850 3723 0.0154
2655 0.0109 49.75 0.850 3766 0.0156
2655 0.0109 49.78 0.850 3766 0.0155
2655 0.0109 49.82 0.850 3775 0.0154
2661 0.0108 49.68 0.850 3758 0.0153
2661 0.0109 49.82 0.850 3784 0.0155
2661 0.0109 49.89 0.850 3775 0.0153
2661 0.0109 49.82 0.850 3784 0.0154
2668 0.0112 50.75 0.851 3784 0.0155
2687 0.0111 50.65 0.851 3819 0.0157
2714 0.0111 50.81 0.852 3802 0.0155
2727 0.0112 50.99 0.852 3819 0.0156
2740 0.0112 51.22 0.852 3819 0.0156
2747 0.0111 50.92 0.852 3819 0.0156
2753 0.0111 50.89 0.852 3810 0.0157
2753 0.0111 50.85 0.852 3810 0.0155
2760 0.0110 50.67 0.852 3810 0.0157
2753 0.0110 50.67 0.852 3793 0.0153
2753 0.0109 50.48 0.852 3793 0.0153
2747 0.0111 50.89 0.852 3775 0.0154
2740 0.0109 50.37 0.852 3766 0.0153
2733 0.0109 50.23 0.852 3775 0.0154
2727 0.0109 50.34 0.852 3766 0.0153
2720 0.0108 50.01 0.851 3784 0.0154
2720 0.0108 50.05 0.851 3784 0.0153
2720 0.0110 50.41 0.852 3784 0.0153
2720 0.0110 50.52 0.852 3784 0.0154
2714 0.0108 50.05 0.851 3775 0.0152
 Enthalpy Specific Saturation Humidity Enthalpy Specific
of Mixture Volume Pressure Ratio of Mixture Volume
h2 V2 Ps(T)3 x3 h3 V3
[kJ/kg] [m³/kg] [Pa] [kJ/kg] [m³/kg]

67.48 0.873 1471 0.0093 36.24 0.821

67.23 0.873 1467 0.0093 36.12 0.821
67.69 0.873 1471 0.0093 36.24 0.821
67.48 0.873 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.13 0.873 1471 0.0093 36.24 0.821
67.91 0.874 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.60 0.873 1480 0.0093 36.47 0.822
67.27 0.873 1480 0.0093 36.47 0.822
67.11 0.873 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.67 0.874 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.02 0.873 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.41 0.874 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.61 0.874 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
68.47 0.874 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.89 0.874 1471 0.0093 36.24 0.821
68.21 0.874 1467 0.0093 36.12 0.821
68.05 0.874 1467 0.0093 36.12 0.821
68.21 0.874 1467 0.0093 36.12 0.821
68.38 0.874 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.81 0.874 1480 0.0093 36.47 0.822
68.33 0.874 1480 0.0093 36.47 0.822
67.34 0.874 1484 0.0094 36.58 0.822
67.34 0.874 1484 0.0094 36.58 0.822
67.48 0.873 1480 0.0093 36.47 0.822
67.04 0.873 1480 0.0093 36.47 0.822
67.27 0.873 1480 0.0093 36.47 0.822
66.99 0.873 1480 0.0093 36.47 0.822
67.46 0.874 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.05 0.873 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.25 0.873 1476 0.0093 36.35 0.822
67.46 0.874 1471 0.0093 36.24 0.821
66.97 0.873 1471 0.0093 36.24 0.821
 Saturation Humidity Enthalpy Specific
Pressure Ratio of Mixture Volume
Ps(T)4 x4 h4 V4
[Pa] [kJ/kg] [m³/kg]

2331.11 0.0120 50.48 0.846

2343.01 0.0120 50.60 0.846
2307.06 0.0119 50.14 0.845
2337.15 0.0121 50.66 0.846
2313.05 0.0120 50.23 0.845
2313.05 0.0120 50.36 0.845
2319.06 0.0121 50.73 0.846
2325.07 0.0121 50.73 0.846
2337.15 0.0121 50.88 0.846
2301.08 0.0119 50.02 0.845
2301.08 0.0120 50.14 0.845
2307.06 0.0120 50.42 0.845
2301.08 0.0120 50.39 0.845
2313.05 0.0121 50.48 0.845
2295.12 0.0119 49.90 0.845
2283.23 0.0117 49.41 0.844
2283.23 0.0117 49.47 0.844
2283.23 0.0117 49.50 0.844
2301.08 0.0119 50.02 0.845
2307.06 0.0121 50.51 0.845
2331.11 0.0121 50.73 0.846
2325.07 0.0121 50.76 0.846
2337.15 0.0121 50.85 0.846
2343.01 0.0121 50.75 0.846
2360.43 0.0122 51.27 0.847
2354.61 0.0122 51.05 0.846
2348.81 0.0121 50.90 0.846
2360.43 0.0121 51.04 0.846
2372.11 0.0122 51.22 0.847
2360.43 0.0120 50.73 0.846
2366.26 0.0120 50.78 0.846
2354.61 0.0119 50.39 0.846

The readings taken during the experiment had close proximity to ones read on the psychrometry
chart for the humidity ratio, enthalpy and specific volume at each of the positions.

DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
The humidity ratio of air will decrease as it proceeds down the duct. This is because the air will
be expanding as it travels through the duct, and the amount of water vapor that can be held in the
air decreases as the temperature increases. The relative humidity of the air will also decrease as it
proceeds down the duct. This is because the humidity ratio is decreasing, and the relative
humidity is a measure of the humidity ratio relative to the saturation humidity ratio. The
saturation humidity ratio is the maximum amount of water vapor that can be held in the air at a
given temperature.
The relative humidity is also affected by temperature. As the temperature of the air increases, the
maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold also increases. This means that for a given
humidity ratio, the relative humidity will be lower at a higher temperature than at a lower
temperature. In a duct, the air will be heated as it travels through the duct. This means that the
humidity ratio will decrease and the relative humidity will also decrease. The rate at which the
humidity ratio and relative humidity decrease will depend on the temperature of the air entering
the duct, the length of the duct, and the amount of heat that is added to the air.
If the humidifier was set to 50%, the humidity ratio would remain constant as the air proceeded
down the duct. This is because the humidifier would be adding water vapor to the air at the same
rate that the air is expanding. The relative humidity would still decrease as the air heated up, but
it would not decrease as quickly as it would if the humidifier was not in use. This is because the
humidity ratio would be higher, which would give the air a higher capacity for holding water
vapor.

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Grondzik, W. T. (Ed.). (2007). Air-conditioning system design manual. Elsevier.

Shallcross, D. (2012). Handbook of Psychrometric Charts: Humidity diagrams for engineers.

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