Experiment No.

PSYCHROMETRIC MEASUREMENT

Course Code: ME401 Program: BSME

Course Title: ME Lab ( Measurement Laboratory) Date Performed: June 25, 2016
Section: ME41FA2 Date Submitted: July 9, 2016
Students: Larin, Lemuel David V. Instructor: Engr. Europeo
Dumpit, Julius Caesar, Jr. M.
Pascion, Alfred G.

1. Objective(s):

The activity aims to demonstrate the measurement of dry bulb and wet bulb temperature using the sling
psychrometer and the psychrometric chart.

2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:
2.1 Measure the dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures of the surrounding atmosphere using the sling
psychrometer.
2.2 Develop professional work ethics, including precision, neatness, safety and ability to follow
instruction.

3. Discussion:

Air is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and small amounts of water vapor. Nitrogen makes up 77%, while oxygen
accounts for 23%. Water vapor can account for 0 to 3% under certain conditions. Water vapor is measured in
grains or, in some cases, pounds per pound of dry air. Seven thousand (7,000) grains of water equal one pound.

Temperature determines the amount of water vapor that air can hold. Hotter temperatures mean that air has a
greater capacity to hold water suspended. Water is condensed out of air as it is cooled. Outside, water
condensation becomes rain. Inside, it becomes condensation on the window glass. Thus, dry air acts somewhat
like a sponge. It absorbs moisture. There are four properties of air that account for its behavior under varying
conditions. These properties are dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, dew point temperature, and relative
humidity.

There are certain amounts of water vapor per pound of dry air. They can be plotted on a psychrometric chart.
Psychro is a Greek term meaning “cold.” A pscychrometer is an instrument for measuring the aquous vapor in
the atmosphere. A difference between a wet bulb thermometer and a dry bulb thermometer is an indication of the
dryness of the air. A psychrometer, then, is a hygrometer, which is a device for measuring water content in air. A
psychrometric chart indicates the different values of temperature and water moisture in air. The dry bulb
temperature is located in one place and the wet bulb in another. If the two are known, it is easy to find the relative
humidity and other factors relating to air being checked.
To obtain the relative humidity of air it is necessary to use two thermometers. One thermometer is a dry bulb; the
other is a wet bulb. The device used to measure relative humidity is the sling psychrometer. It has two glass-stem
thermometers. The wet bulb thermometer is moistened by a wick attached to the bulb. As the dual thermometers
are whirled, air passes over them. The dry and wet bulb temperatures are recorded. Relative humidity is
determined by graphs, slide rules, or similar devices.

A sling psychrometer is an instrument that measures relative humidity (a hygrometer). The sling has two
thermometers, a dry bulb and a wet bulb thermometer, mounted together on a chain. The wet bulb thermometer
is wrapped in muslin that is moistened with distilled water. The user then swings the sling until the temperatures
stabilize, then quickly notes the two temperatures. To interpret the readings and determine the humidity, a chart
is then used for the specific altitude at which the reading was taken. Basically, the drier the air is, the more
moisture evaporates from the moistened muslin-covered thermometer, and the greater the difference between
the two thermometers. If the relative humidity is 100%, then the two temperatures will be the same.

Slings have been around for years, and are becoming less and less used for many reasons. With the advent of
digital hygrometers, it's just easier to pull out a device and read the screen. Additionally, besides being
cumbersome and time consuming, slings contain mercury, a hazardous material, and must be handled with care.
A sling will typically read 5-10% high due to user error. Some of the mistakes that can be made while using a
sling are:

1. If the sock on the wet bulb thermometer is not clean, the humidity measured from a sling will err on the high
side.

2. If the water used for the wet bulb thermometer is not distilled water, the humidity measured from a sling will err
on the high side.

3. If the sling is not swung around long enough, the humidity measured from a sling will err on the high side.

4. If the thermometer measurements are not read quickly enough after swinging the sling, the humidity measured
from a sling will err on the high side.

5. If the charts used to interpret the results are not for the same altitude where the readings were taken, the
humidity will be incorrect. Additionally, the charts are only available in 100’ increments, and it is often difficult to
determine the exact altitude of the user.

Sling psychrometers are the standard for accurately measuring ambient temperature and humidity. Every
meteorologist should know how to use one correctly.

1. Inspect the cotton wick on the sling psychrometer and make sure that it is in good condition and firmly in
contact with the thermometer bulb. A psychrometer with a yellowed or frayed wick will not give an accurate
reading, and the wick should be replaced. Do not touch the wick with your fingers, because contaminants will
affect the accuracy.Also, check for a separated mercury column.

2. Thoroughly saturate the wick with distilled water. If the water beads up and does not easily soak in, the wick
should be replaced.

3. Face into the wind (if any) and begin swinging the psychrometer at a steady, comfortable pace (about 2 turns
per second is good). Be extremely careful that you don't strike the psychrometer on a nearby table, railing, or
other obstruction! Also, keep it far enough from your body that you don't pick up your own body heat.
4. After about 1 minute, stop and check the wet-bulb temperature, quickly reading it to the nearest 1/10 degree (if
you stop too long, the temperature will start to change). Then continue swinging the psychrometer for another
minute or so. Check the wet-bulb temperature again and see whether it has changed from your previous reading.
If it has, continue swinging for another minute and check again. Repeat as necessary. Your goal is to get the
lowest possible reading out of the wet bulb thermometer (assuming that it started out near the dry air
temperature). Important note: make sure that the wick does not become too dry. If it does, you will need to add
another drop or two of distilled water and start over.

5. Carefully but quickly read and record the nal wet bulb and dry bulb temperatures to the nearest 0.1 degree,
interpolating between tick marks as necessary.

6. Use whatever method is available (psychrometric computer, Skew-T diagram, or table) to compute the
dewpoint and relative humidity. Important Tips: Most beginners do not take accurate psychrometer readings
because of the following common mistakes: (1) not ventilating the psychrometer long enough to reach
equilibrium; (2) not getting the wick wet enough, or letting it dry out; (3) holding it too close to the body or taking
too long to read the thermometers; (4) touching the bulb ends with the hands while reading; (5) not facing into the
breeze. Every one of these mistakes usually leads to a wet-bulb temperature reading that is too warm.

The Sling Psychrometer

One mercury in glass thermometer whose sensing bulb is bare to directly contact the air and to measure the
temperature which is called as the dry-bulb temperature. One mercury in glass thermometer whose sensing bulb
is covered with a cotton or muslin wick made wet with pure water. This sensing bulb covered with the cotton wick
moistened is made to contact the air and the temperature indicated by this thermometer is called as the wet bulb-
thermometer. The instrument frame carrying the thermometer is covered by a glass casing. A swivel handle is
attached to frame-glass casing – thermometer arrangement to ensure that the air at the wet bulb always in
immediate contact with the wet wick. When a thermometer bulb is directly exposed to an air-water vapour
mixture, the temperature indicated by the thermometer is the dry-bulb temperature. When a thermometer bulb is
covered by a constantly wet wick and if the bulb covered by the wet wick is exposed to air water vapour mixture,
the temperature indicated by the thermometer is the wet bulb temperature.
4. Materials and Equipment:

 Sling Psychrometer
 Psychrometric Chart
 Stop watch

5. Procedure:

1. Check the sling psychrometer to ensure that thermometers are properly secured.

2. Wet the wick of the wet bulb thermometer until it is saturated.

3. The instructor should designate the locations (inside the campus) where measurements of wet bulb
and dry bulb temperature are to be performed.

4. To get the dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures, whirl the sling psychrometer for about 2 minutes
within the designated locations. Be sure the sling psychrometer will not hit anybody while it is being
whirled. Repeat this procedure for at least three different areas in the designated locations.\

5. Repeat procedure 4 in all the designated locations.

6. Use the psychrometric chart to get the other properties of air required by this experiment.
 Psychrometric Chart

The Psychrometric Chart in English Units

8. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

TIP-VPAA–054D
Revision Status/Date:0/2009 September 09

TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

RUBRIC FOR LABORATORY PERFORMANCE
CRITERIA BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT SCORE
1 2 3
Laboratory Skills
Manipulative Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Skills demonstrate needed demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
skills. skills. skills.
Experimental Members are unable to Members are able to Members are able to
Set-up set-up the materials. set-up the materials set-up the material with
with supervision. minimum supervision.
Process Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills. process skills.

Safety Members do not follow Members follow safety Members follow safety
Precautions safety precautions. precautions most of the precautions at all
time. times.
Work Habits
Time Members do not finish Members finish on time Members finish ahead
Management/ on time with incomplete with incomplete data. of time with complete
Conduct of data. data and time to revise
Experiment data.
Cooperative Members do not know Members have defined Members are on tasks
and their tasks and have no responsibilities most of and have
Teamwork defined responsibilities. the time. Group responsibilities at all
Group conflicts have to conflicts are times. Group conflicts
be settled by the cooperatively managed are cooperatively
teacher. most of the time. managed at all times.
Neatness and Messy workplace during Clean and orderly Clean and orderly
Orderliness and after the workplace with workplace at all times
experiment. occasional mess during during and after the
and after the experiment.
experiment.
Ability to do Members require Members require Members do not need
independent supervision by the occasional supervision to be supervised by the
work teacher. by the teacher. teacher.
Other Comments/Observations:
TOTAL SCORE

RATING=
x 100%
Line Graph:

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0
11:14 11:19 11:25 11:28 11:32 11:36 11:40 11:45 11:49 11:55

Dry Bulb Wet Bulb