The following article was taken from a larger work on psychrometrics by

Norm Christopherson

COOLING WITH DEHUMIDIFICATION


Cooling is a sensible heat process. Cooling with dehumidification is a
sensible and latent heat combination. Strictly cooling air raises the relative
humidity. This may require that some dehumidification be accomplished to
reduce the humidity to comfortable levels. The chart in figure 8-1 shows a
typical process line for cooling with dehumidification.





Figure 8- 1




The state point on the right is warmer and lower in relative humidity than
the point on the left. Moving to the left on the chart indicates a reduction in
temperature as well as an increase in relative humidity.


Also notice that the state point on the right is higher on the chart than that
on the left. As this air was cooled it moved to the left but, it also dropped to
a lower specific humidity (grains) line. This indicates that the air was not
only cooled but, some actual grains of moisture were removed. The number
of grains removed per pound of air can be determined by finding the
difference between the number of grains at each state point.

The following example of a typical cooling with dehumidification process
illustrates how the process works.
















COOLING WITH DEHUMIDIFICATION








Figure 8- 2




The cooling system in figure 8-2 is cooling and dehumidifying the air
simultaneously. This is the most common air conditioning process. This
system is moving 2000 CFM of air. Dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures are
taken of the supply and return air and found to be as follows:







RETURN AIR SUPPLY AIR

DB 80 degrees DB 60 degrees
WB 65 degrees WB 55 degrees
The state points for each of these conditions are located on a psychrometric
chart. (See figure 8-3) From the chart the following additional conditions
are read and recorded.
%RH about 46% %RH about 73%
Grains about 68.5 gr Grains about 57 gr





Notice as the air was cooled the relative humidity increased. This is due to
the contraction of the air. The moisture is contained in a smaller volume of
air thus the relative humidity is higher.
Also notice that the actual humidity in grains decreased. The cooling coil
removed grains (68.5 - 57) 11.5 grains of moisture removed for each pound
of air treated by the coil. The moisture removed attached itself to the coil
and fins, ran down the fins and into the condensate pan where it is drained
off.




THE SYSTEM COOLING CAPACITY


Since this system is removing both sensible and latent heat the total heat
formula must be used to determine the operating capacity.
Using the wet bulb temperatures for the supply and return air conditions,
look up the matching enthalpy for each on the wet bulb to enthalpy
conversion chart found on page xxx. The enthalpy values from the chart are
found to be as follows:


RETURN AIR SUPPLY AIR

WB 65 = an enthalpy of 30.06 btu\lb WB 55 = an enthalpy of 23.22 btu\lb


Find the difference in enthalpy by subtracting. 30.06 - 23.22 = 6.84 btu\lb


Now we know that 6.84 btu of heat was removed from each pound of air
that passed over the evaporator coil. Some of this heat was sensible heat
because the air was cooled, and some was latent heat because grains of
moisture were removed. Now the total cooling capacity of the coil can be
determined.











The Total Heat Formula





















APPARATUS DEW POINT OR EFFECTIVE COIL TEMPERATURE


The ADP (apparatus dew point) or ETC (effective coil temperature) is the
temperature of the evaporator coil for this system operating under these
conditions. The temperature is determined by drawing a straight line
between the two state points and extending this line to the saturation
(100%) line on the chart as in figure 8-4.


The coil temp, apparatus dew point or effective coil temperature is read at
the saturation curve.







Figure 8- 4


You should be able to read this temperature as somewhere between 47 and
48 degrees on a psychrometric chart. A very careful evaluation will show
the reading to be 47.5 degrees. The coil temperature is useful in
determining the coil bypass factor.


COIL BYPASS FACTOR


The bypass factor is the percentage of air passing over the coil that is not
affected by the coil. This is air that passes between the coil tubes and fins
without making physical contact thus is untreated by the evaporator.









The leaving air dry bulb (LA DB) is the dry bulb temperature of the air
leaving the coil. This is the supply air dry bulb of 60 degrees. The entering
air dry bulb temperature is the dry bulb temperature of the air entering the
coil. This is the return air dry bulb temperature of 80 degrees. The ECT is
the temperature of 47.5 degrees.

















The bypass factor of .384 means that 38.4% of the air moving over the coil
is unaffected by the coil.
Typical bypass factors for normally operating coils vary from .1 to .35, or
from 10% to 35%. A high bypass factor may indicate the air flow in cfm is
too high or it may simply indicate that the system air flow is adjusted to
prevent over dehumidifying the space. High sensible heat applications of air
conditioning may be so adjusted. An example is a computer room.
A knowledge of psychrometrics and airflow integrated with the fan laws is a
great service tool for the technician. This article just begins to illustrate the
fundamental cooling and dehumidification process. Many practical uses of
psychrometrics abound.