Introduction:

Psychometrics or psychometry is terms used to describe the field of engineering

concerned with the determination of physical and thermodynamic properties of
gas-vapor mixtures. The term derives from the Greek psuchron (ψυχρόν)
meaning "cold” and metron (μέτρον) meaning "means of measurement".

The term air conditioning means treating of air or conditioning the air to change
its temperature or the moisture as per the requirements of various applications.
Air conditioners are used throughout the world for a number of applications and
one just can’t imagine the life without them. They are the devices or machine
that condition or alter the state of the air by changing its temperature and the
humidity level. Though you may have read about the various types of air
conditioning systems, you may have hardly bothered about reading the various
constituents of the air and what changes occur in them that lead to reduction in
the temperature of the air and changes in its humidity.

Psychometric is the science of study of various properties of air, method of

controlling its temperature and moisture content or humidity and its effect on
various materials and human beings. Studying Psychometric helps
understanding different constituents of air and how they affect each other,
which in turn unravels various mysteries of the atmosphere and the nature.
Some of the psychometric properties of air that we are going to study are: dry
bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, dew point temperature, relative
humidity etc.

Common applications:
The principles of psychometric apply to any physical system consisting of gas-
vapor mixtures. The most common system of interest, however, is mixtures of
water vapor and air because of its application in heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning and meteorology.

Psychometric ratio:
The psychometric ratio is the ratio of the heat transfer coefficient to the product
of mass transfer coefficient and humid heat at a wetted surface. It may be
evaluated with the following equation:
 Where:

• r = Psychometric ratio, dimensionless

• hc = convective heat transfer coefficient, W m-2 K-1
• ky = convective mass transfer coefficient, kg m-2 s-1
• cs = humid heat, J kg-1 K-1

Humid heat is the constant-pressure specific heat of moist air, per unit mass of
dry air.

The psychometric ratio is an important property in the area of psychometrics as

it relates the absolute humidity and saturation humidity to the difference
between the dry bulb temperature and the adiabatic saturation temperature.

Mixtures of air and water vapor are the most common systems encountered in
psychometric. The psychometric ratio of air-water vapor mixtures is
approximately unity which implies that the difference between the adiabatic
saturation temperature and wet bulb temperature of air-water vapor mixtures is
small. This property of air-water vapor systems simplifies drying and cooling
calculations often performed using psychometric relationships.

Psychometric chart:
A psychometric chart is a graph of the physical properties of moist air at a
constant pressure (often equated to an elevation relative to sea level). The chart
graphically expresses how various properties relate to each other, and is thus a
graphical equation of state. The thermo physical properties found on most
psychometric charts are:
 Figure: Psychometric chart

• Dry-bulb temperature (DBT) is that of an air sample, as determined by an

ordinary thermometer, the thermometer's bulb being dry. It is typically
the x-axis, the horizontal axis, of the graph. The SI units for temperature
are Kelvin; other units are Fahrenheit.
• Wet-bulb temperature (WBT) is that of an air sample after it has passed
through a constant-pressure, ideal, adiabatic saturation process, that is,
after the air has passed over a large surface of liquid water in an insulated
channel. In practice, this is the reading of a thermometer whose sensing
bulb is covered with a wet sock evaporating into a rapid stream of the
sample air. The WBT is the same as the DBT when the air sample is
saturated with water. The slope of the line of constant WBT reflects the
heat of vaporization of the water required to saturate the air of a given
relative humidity.
• Dew point temperature (DPT) is that temperature at which a moist air
sample at the same pressure would reach water vapor saturation. At this
saturation point, water vapor would begin to condense into liquid water
fog or (if below freezing) solid hoarfrost, as heat is removed. The dew
point temperature is measured easily and provides useful information, but
is normally not considered an independent property. It duplicates
information available via other humidity properties and the saturation
curve.
• Relative humidity (RH) is the ratio of the mole fraction of water vapor to
the mole fraction of saturated moist air at the same temperature and
pressure. RH is dimensionless, and is usually expressed as a percentage.
Lines of constant RH reflect the physics of air and water: they are
determined via experimental measurement. Note: the notion that air
"holds" moisture, or that moisture dissolves in dry air and saturates the
solution at some proportion, is an erroneous (albeit widespread) concept
(see relative humidity for further details).
• Humidity ratio (also known as moisture content, mixing ratio, or specific
humidity) is the proportion of mass of water vapor per unit mass of dry
air at the given conditions (DBT, WBT, DPT, RH, etc.). It is typically the
y-axis, the vertical axis, of the graph. For a given DBT there will be a
particular humidity ratio for which the air sample is at 100% relative
humidity: the relationship reflects the physics of water and air and must
be measured. Humidity ratio is dimensionless, but is sometimes
expressed as grams of water per kilogram of dry air or grains of water per
pound of air (7000 grains equal 1 pound).
• Specific enthalpy symbolized by h, also called heat content per unit mass,
is the sum of the internal (heat) energy of the moist air in question,
including the heat of the air and water vapor within. In the approximation
of ideal gases, lines of constant enthalpy are parallel to lines of constant
WBT. Enthalpy is given in (SI) joules per kilogram of air or BTU per
pound of dry air.
• Specific volume, also called inverse density, is the volume per unit mass
of the air sample. The SI units are cubic meters per kilogram of dry air;
other units are cubic feet per pound of dry air.
The versatility of the psychometric chart lies in the fact that by knowing three
independent properties of some moist air (one of which is the pressure), the
other properties can be determined. Changes in state, such as when two air
streams mix, can be modeled easily and somewhat graphically using the correct
psychometric chart for the location's air pressure or elevation relative to sea
level. For locations at or below 2000 ft (600 m), a common assumption is to use
the sea level psychometric chart.

The relationship between DBT, WBT, and RH is given by the Mollier diagram
(pressure-enthalpy) for water in air, developed by Richard Mollier. Willis
Carrier, considered the 'father' of modern air-conditioning, rearranged the
Mollier diagram for moist air (its T-s chart) to allow such graphical solutions.
Many variations and improvements to the psychometric charts have occurred
since, and most charts do not show the specific entropy(s) like the Mollier
diagram. ASHRAE now publishes what are considered the modern, standard
psychometric charts, in both I-P and SI units, for a variety of elevations or air
pressures.

How to read the chart:

The most common chart used by practitioners and students alike is the "ω-t"
(omega-t) chart in which the dry bulb temperature (DBT) appears horizontally
as the abscissa and the humidity ratios (ω) appear as the ordinates.

In order to use a particular chart, for a given air pressure or elevation, at least
two of the six independent properties must be known (DBT, WBT, RH,
humidity ratio, specific enthalpy, and specific volume). This gives rise to

possible combinations.

DBT: This can be determined from the abscissa on the x-axis, the horizontal
axis

DPT: Follow the horizontal line from the point where the line from the
horizontal axis arrives at 100% RH, also known as the saturation curve.

WBT: Line inclined to the horizontal and intersects saturation curve at DBT
point.

RH: Hyperbolic lines drawn asymptotically with respect to the saturation curve
which corresponds to 100% RH.

Humidity ratio: Marked on the y-axis.

Specific enthalpy: lines of equal values, or hash marks for, slope from the upper
left to the lower right.

Specific volume: Equally spaced parallel family of lines.

Dry-bulb temperature

Common thermometers measure what is known as the dry-bulb temperature.

Electronic temperature measurement, via thermocouples, thermostats, and
resistance temperature devices (RTDs), for example, have been widely used too
since they became available.

Wet-bulb temperature

The thermodynamic wet-bulb temperature is a thermodynamic property of a

mixture of air and water vapor. The value indicated by a simple wet-bulb
thermometer often provides an adequate approximation of the thermodynamic
wet-bulb temperature.

A wet-bulb thermometer is an instrument which may be used to infer the

amount of moisture in the air. If a moist cloth wick is placed over a
thermometer bulb the evaporation of moisture from the wick will lower the
thermometer reading (temperature). If the air surrounding a wet-bulb
thermometer is dry, evaporation from the moist wick will be more rapid than if
the air is moist. When the air is saturated no water will evaporate from the wick
and the temperature of the wet-bulb thermometer will be the same as the
reading on the dry-bulb thermometer. However, if the air is not saturated water
will evaporate from the wick causing the temperature reading to be lower.

The accuracy of a simple wet-bulb thermometer depends on how fast air passes
over the bulb and how well the thermometer is shielded from the radiant
temperature of its surroundings. Speeds up to 5,000 ft/min (60 mph) are best but
dangerous to move a thermometer at that speed. Errors up to 15% can occur if
the air movement is too slow or if there is too much radiant heat present
(sunlight, for example).

A wet bulb temperature taken with air moving at about 1-2 m/s is referred to as
a screen temperature, whereas a temperature taken with air moving about 3.5
m/s or more is referred to as sling temperature.

A psychomotor is a device that includes both a dry-bulb and a wet-bulb

thermometer. A sling psychomotor requires manual operation to create the
airflow over the bulbs, but a powered psycho meter includes a fan for this
function.
There are three basic properties evaluated in psychometrics:

• Humidity
• Airflow
• Temperature

This is often referred to as the drying pie and each has a direct influence on the
rate of evaporation (or condensation) that will occur when moisture and
materials interact. In order for evaporation to occur at a rate that will bring the
"body of water" to a net loss, there must be sufficient energy generated within
the body of water itself so that the water molecules move rapidly and break their
bonds with one another and their state is altered.

"While water temperature and air moisture content define whether condensation
or evaporation will win the battle, airflow determines the rate at which the battle
will play out. Where no airflow exists, the net change will be slow. Where
airflow does exist, the net change will occur at a more rapid rate.

"Humidity, airflow and temperature directly affect the sate in which water exists
- solid (ice), liquid (water) or gas (vapor) and the rate at which the change of
state occurs. It is critical to have a clear understanding of the methods for
measuring psychometric properties and of how to use them appropriately when
evaluating a restorative drying environment.

Ultimately, the goal in restorative drying is to remove excess water from

affected building materials after a water intrusion. This process requires
restorers change liquid water into vapor (evaporation). Once water is
evaporated, it must then be removed. This is most often done by changing
vapor (humidity) back into a liquid (condensation) using refrigerant
dehumidifiers. Therefore, the goal in restorative drying involves changing
water's state.

The Influence of Temperature

There are several changes of state that can occur, depending upon whether
energy is being added or removed. The amount of energy required to change
water's state is quite phenomenal. In fact, it requires more energy to change
water from one state to the next than is required with almost any other
molecule.

Energy is measured in the restorative drying industry using dry bulb

temperature, or simply degrees Fahrenheit (Celsius). Where temperature is
higher, more energy is present. It is important to note that temperature
measurement is valuable, but is not a specific measurement of heat. Heat
energy is measured by other means, commonly in British Thermal Units, or
BTUs (United States, Canada) and in Calories (Metric).

The Influence of Humidity

The Relative Relationship

"The amount of moisture in materials is most directly related to the relative

humidity (RH) of the surrounding air. RH is the amount of moisture in air
expressed as a percentage of the air's total holding capacity. It is an expression
of how much water the air is holding compared to what it could hold...
Materials will seek equilibrium with the surrounding relative humidity. For
example, if an environment was to become more humid, and the relative
humidity increased to 70%, hygroscopic materials would absorb moisture until
they were holding approximately 70% of their holding capacity. This is
referred to as a relative equilibrium."

The Specific Relationship

"The rate at which moisture will move is most related to the actual amount of
water in the air. In addition to relative humidity, humidity can be measured as a
weight. This measurement is much more specific to the amount of water in air.
It also directly affects how quickly water will move. Where water vapor in air
weighs more, it exerts more pressure. This pressure pushes back against water
leaving materials, or adds force to water entering materials.

The weight measurement used in the restorative drying industry (United States,
Canada) is grains per pound of dry air, abbreviated as GPP. It is a ratio,
expressing the weight of water in a given weight of air (a pound of
air)... Because this measurement is of the water vapor weight, it tells the restorer
where the moisture is in greatest concentration. Greater weight means more
moisture. Higher GPP (g/kg) in the air surrounding a material will retard the
evaporation process because the weight of water vapor resists vapor leaving the
material. GPP (g/kg) therefore influences the rate at moisture moves toward
equilibrium".

The Influence of Airflow

"Air movement in the drying environment speeds the effect of humidity and
temperature. It provides a blending effect, ensuring that the warm, dry air
created by drying equipment (e.g., dehumidifiers) is quickly and continuously
placed into contact with wet materials. It also ensures that evaporated water
vapor is removed from the same surfaces.
Another important purpose of air movement is to create air exchange between
adjacent affected areas. Without airflow, humidity and temperature would
greatly vary from one area to the next. Restorers would need to install drying
equipment in every affected air space within the structure. This would be
impractical for most applications... The more moisture a material contains, the
faster water will evaporate. Greater evaporation rates require more airflow to
maintain low humidity along the surface. As materials dry, less airflow is
necessary. This relationship is directly related to the type of water present.
Where surface water is present, the greatest amount of airflow is necessary.
Where only bound water is present, the least amount of airflow is necessary".

Reference:
1) Book: Principles of Refrigeration by Roy J. Dossat

2) Book: Basic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning by P N Ananthanarayan

3) Internet: www.wikipedia.com

4) Internet: www.google.com

5) Internet: www.searchw3.net

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