Understanding

psychrometric charts

Produced by GT-ED-KE , 2012

Contents

1. Air-conditioning process and status of the air

2. The practical use of psychrometric charts ( calculation of equipment capacity )

3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 1:The carrying-over of vapor caused by humidification

(Quality complaint information No. 62-013)
[Circumstances/conditions]
In a factory, the setting of the air-supply dew point temperature was changed from 60% 10% to 65% 10%.
Humidified vapor was saturated and carried over. The carried-over vapor wetted the ceiling of the HEPA outlet and
dropped from the ceiling. HEPA is the acronym of High Efficiency Particulate Air.
In addition, defective products were produced due to the abnormal deterioration of the room pressure.

[Backgrounds]
The room, where the trouble occurred, was an explosion-protective area. It had an air-conditioning system
operated by a once-through type outdoor air-conditioner.
The setting of the relative humidity of the room was raised to reduce the generation of static electricity.

[Countermeasures to prevent recurrence]

Key factor 1
Before changing the settings of the room humidity (the settings of the dew point temperature of the supply air) under the steam
humidification method, check the condition of the air after humidification on the psychrometric chart to see whether the
relative humidity is over 85%*.
*Consider that the air is not always humidified uniformly. Set the relative humidity at 85% or lower.
Key factor 2
Heat generated from manufacturing equipment may have increased due to some reasons, for example, because of increased
products compared to the originally planned number. In advance, measure the current temperature and quantity of the supply
air, and know the room loads (caused by heat generation from equipment).
Check whether the air flow is reduced by filter clogging or not.

Key factor 3
Note that under humidification at a lower temperature (the air is humidified at 15 or lower), the vapor absorption must be
longer than that under the humidification room temperature. If the air is humidified at a lower temperature, consider using
standpipe-equipped air-conditioners.
*See Engineering data: Selection of humidifiers.

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 1:The carrying-over of vapor caused by humidification

1. In Primary design time

Air-conditioning system flow diagram

Supply air is room air dew-point condition .( Supply air dew-point temperature control )
Setting dew-point temperature is 15 DP .
(1) Air temperature after pre-heating coil ; 16DB
(2) First stage humidifying ;
(3) Supply air is re-heated to 18DB ; t = 5
(4) Second stage humidifying ;

(23-60%)

(0-40%)

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 1:The carrying-over of vapor caused by humidification

2. In changing time

Air-conditioning system flow diagram

Supply air is room air dew-point condition .( Supply air dew-point temperature control )
Setting dew-point temperature is changed from 15 DP to 16 DP .
Action of Stopping same failure again
Key factor 1.
In case of using steam humidifying system , In case of room humidity setting rate changing ( Supply air dew-point rate changing )
It is required to be checked Air after humidifying is not over 85 % RH .
Humidifying to Air might not be unity / even , then 85 % RH condition is set .

(23-65%)
90%
(23-60%)

(0-40%)

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 1:The carrying-over of vapor caused by humidification

2. In changing time

Air-conditioning system flow diagram

Room air-conditioning load was increased , re-heating was no working , supply air temperature was changed from 18 to 16 DB .
HEPA filter was become wet , resistance was increased , air-conditioner running air volume was decreased down .
Supply air condition was saturate condition .
Action of Stopping same failure again
Key factor 2.
In factory / production , it is possible to be expanded production volume than primary design time condition .
It might be increased room air-conditioning heat load .
Then the actual supply air condition and supply air volume have to be measured and checked .
And it is required to be checked actual air volume due to air filter clogging .
(23-65%)
100%
(23-60%)

(0-40%)

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

3. What is Humidifying in low air temperature condition

( Humidifying air temperature below 15 ) ?

In case of air temperature below 15 DB , In case of humidifying volume larger than 5g / m3 ( 0.005 kg / m3 ) .
Stand type steam humidifier and With angle type are available , have to be considered to be used .
The objective is to increase humidifying efficiency and humidifying expanding performance .
Refer Engineering data Humidifier selection
Stand Pipe humidifier system

Extracted from SINKO INDUSTRIES LTD. catalogue

Installation image
Steam pipe
Angle

Air Flow 45

No angle setting case Angle setting case

Refer Engineering data Humidifier selection 7

3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 2 : A failure occurred in a constant temperature and humidity laboratory

Sock chilling air duct

Fixed temperature & humidity room

,1500Pa()

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 2 : A failure occurred in a constant temperature and humidity laboratory

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Fixed Temperature & Humidity room , Key point of air-conditioning system

Checking of Temperature & Humidity allowance

Example ,

Temperature base : 20 1 ( Humidity 60%RH setting ) 60% 3%

Humidity base : 60% 5% ( Temperature 20 setting ) 20 1.5
It is different by setting base and rate , so needed to be checked on psychometric chart .

(a). Temperature base (b). Humidity base

t : Temperature difference of room air and supply air , it is 45 Times of temperature allowance rate .

Example ,

25 1 t = 4 5 (K)
General air-conditioning system , allowance rate is around 2 K , so t = 10 (K) nearly .

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 2 : A failure occurred in a constant temperature and humidity laboratory

1. Checking & studying on the Psychometric chart
(1) Design temperature & humidity condition Plotting
91.0

45.2

0.0088

0.0013

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 2 : A failure occurred in a constant temperature and humidity laboratory

1. Checking & studying Calculation
(1) SHF = 26.62 / 29.52 = 0.90
on the Psychometric chart
(2) Temperature difference of room air and supply air
(2) Plotting of design calculation result rates t = ( 26.52 x 3,600 ) / ( 1.2 x 1.0 x 16,500 ) = 4.8 ( deg. C )
91.0
(3) Mixed point enthalpy
= ( 91 x 1,600 + 45.2 x 14,900 ) / 16,500 = 49.6 ( kJ / kg )

e)
m
lu
vo
A
eO
ak
nt
(I
ad
Lo
49.6
A
O
45.2

39.9

Room Load (TH) Room Load (LH)

Room Load (SH)

0.0088

0.0081

0.0013

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 91.0

35.0

49.6
It is impossible to be changed air condition from 24.2 point to 18.2 point
45.2 directly by Cooling coil cooling & de-humidifying .

39.9
Outdoor Air Load
Room Load (TH) 0.0088

Room Load (LH)

Room Load (SH)

0.0013

24.2

18.2 23.0
13
 91.0

49.6
45.2

39.9

0.0088

23 - 67 %

0.0013

14
 91.0

35.0
In case of fixed temperature & humidity room , it is required to put de-humidifying capacity exactly .
It is poor calculation & design just on the desk , needed to be checked on the psychometric chart .

46.9
45.2

39.9
Outdoor Air Load

34.6 Room Load (TH)

Room Load (LH)
Re-heating Load
( De-humidifying Load )
Room Load (SH)

24.2

13.0 18.2 23.0

It is required t = 18.2 - 13.0 = 5.2 deg. C re-heating , from cooling coil outlet to supply air .
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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases

Case 2 : A failure occurred in a constant temperature and humidity laboratory.

Instructions
1. When you design equipment capacity, confirm the air behaviors on the psychrometric charts.
Do not rely only on calculation.

* In particular, do not forget confirming cooling characteristics of cooling coils.

2. After you confirm the permissible temperature range and the permissible humidity range on the
psychrometric chart, select more strict ranges.
Consider the outlet air temperature difference corresponding to the permissible temperature difference.

3. You should consider equipment behaviors on the psychrometric charts to determine the equipment capacity.

* You should determine the equipment capacity by comparing the capability to reheat the air with that
necessary for heating air-conditioning.

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases
Case 3 Deficient humidification in an office building
Recently, many office buildings have adopted multiple air-conditioning systems.
The reasons why such systems are adopted include advantages, such as separate operation and easy switching
between cooling and heating modes.
Multiple systems, however, frequently cause deficient humidification during the winter. More customers tend
to express requests to improve it. The following factors are possible causes.

Factor of possible causes of less humidification

1. It is difficult to incorporate humidifiers satisfying necessary capabilities into multiple air-conditioning
systems for buildings.
*1: Humidifier are installed in one/two-way cassette type or to an indoor unit is attached to a cassette type
and ceiling-embedded type room air-conditioners.
*2: The quantity of humidification is approximately 1 kg/h. The humidification efficiency is better when the
temperature is higher while the humidity is lower.
2. Based on the increase in room heat loads, cooling is required even during the winter.
*1: If a humidifier is associated with a room air-conditioner, a total heat exchanger with direct expansion
coils operates in the same mode as the room air conditioner.
*2: If only total heat exchange is carried out, it is impossible to sufficiently humidify the air.

3. Customers do not have sufficient knowledge of humidification, or the air-conditioners are not maintained
adequately.
*1: Do not raise the room temperature without reason. If the temperature rises, the relative humidity falls.
*2: Comply with instructions described in the manual, and maintain equipment and systems without fail.

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3. Prevention of similar troubles based on customer complaint cases
Case 3 Deficient humidification in an office building
Example :
Building multi air-conditioning system with heat exchanger and humidifier .
Office room air-conditioning load is cooling side in winter also .
Humidifying
(2) Plotting ofis design
done after heat exchanger
calculation OA ,
result rates
Heat exchanger is with direct expansion coil type , but it is not heating running .

Humidifier
Necessary check & study items are ,
Separate heat exchanger line with air-conditioner indoor unit line .
Air-conditioner Set individual OA air-con. Line for OA treating and supply .
indoor unit Setting humidifier separately .

Present office building air-conditioning system is sometimes cooling

side due to building skin load saved and equipments load up .
Heat exchanger
We calculate winter season heating load with no equipment load base ,
but actually we have to consider many cases .
Exp.
Room condition ; 22 - 45% ( We have learned air-conditioning system design & calculation for
Outdoor air ; 0 - 50% standard model , the actual model is much changing now . )
Heat exchanger efficiency ; 50% Image some patterns and using psychometric chart effectively ,
make and put counter measures .

Just 35% RH only Humidifying is done on this point OA after heat exchanger

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 This is the end of the explanation of
Prevention of similar trouble based on customer complaint cases
for Understanding psychrometric charts

Thank you all for listening so attentively.

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