STUDENT’S NAME: Lenchen M.

Arcon DATE: 02/07/24

MENG – 157
ME LABORATORY – III
LABORATORY ACTIVITY -
2
THE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM
INSTRUCTOR: EDGARDO C. OCHAVILLO

I. INTRODUCTION:
As technology progresses during the industrial revolution, developments in
different fields of science and engineering has been carried out by different experts. One
such advancement is the development of the refrigeration system. People on non-
temperate countries can now store food in an effective and economical way. While this
advancement has been good enough, some inventors have tinkered with the technology
and thought of applying it in a very different use which is cooling a certain space for human
occupancy.

This has led into a different branch of engineering that is air conditioning. Willis
Havil and Carrier was an American engineer, best known for inventing modern air
conditioning. Carrier invented the first electrical air conditioning unit in 1902. In 1915, he
founded Carrier Corporation, a company specializing in the manufacture and distribution
of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

His invention has forever changed the modern world. It is now possible to execute
processes never possible 50 years ago. The design of the air conditioner has never changed
a lot for the past decades and it would be very interesting to discover new processes in
making things cold.

II. OBJECTIVES
 To know the principle behind the air conditioning process
 To know the parts and function of the air conditioning trainer
 To be able to operate an air conditioning trainer

III. EQUIPMENT
1. Paper and pen
2. Calculator
3. Stopwatches
4. An air conditioning trainer
5. Psychrometric chart
6. Ruler (optional)
IV. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Cooling of air is one of the most common psychrometric processes in the air
conditioning systems. The basic function of the air conditioner is to cool the air
absorbed from the room or the atmosphere, which is at a higher temperature. The
sensible cooling of air is the process in which only the sensible heat of the air is
removed so as to reduce its temperature, and there is no change in the moisture
content (kg/kg of dry air) of the air. During sensible cooling process, the dry bulb
(DB) temperature and the wet bulb (WB) temperature of the air reduces, while the
latent heat of the air, and the dew point (DP) temperature of the air remains
constant. There is overall reduction in the enthalpy of air.

In the ordinary window or split type air conditioner, the cooling of air is
carried out by passing it through the evaporator coil, also called as the cooling coil.
The room air or the atmospheric air passes over this coil carrying refrigerant at
extremely low temperatures, and gets cooled and passes to the space which is to be
maintained at the comfortable conditions.

In general, the sensible cooling process is carried out by passing the air over
the coil. In the unitary air conditioners, these coils are cooled by the refrigerants
passing through them and are also called evaporator coils. In central air
conditioners, these coils are cooled by a chilled water, which is cooled by its passage
through the evaporator of the large air conditioning system. In certain cases, the coil
is also cooled by some gas passing inside it.

The sensible cooling process is represented by a straight horizontal line on

the psychrometric chart. The line starts from the initial DB temperature of the air
and ends at the final DB temperature of the air extending towards the left side from
the high temperature to the low temperature. The sensible cooling line is also the
constant DP temperature line since the moisture content of the air remains constant.
The initial and final points on the psychrometric chart give all the properties of the
air.

Procedure:

1. Set the temperature of the air-con trainer lower than that of the surroundings.

2. Record the necessary data and tabulate.

3. Repeat the process three times given different temperature settings.

4. Determine the relative humidity and dry bulb temperature of outside air and the

air leaving the evaporator coils. Plot using the psychrometric chart.

5. If the properties of air are not reaching the thermal comfort zone, suggest a new

A/C system that improves the property of air in relation to the thermal comfort.

Illustrate the new system using a schematic diagram and plot its process.
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1. Data collected from the hygrometer sensor.

EVAPORATOR OUTLET OUTSIDE CONDITION

TRIALS THERMOSTAT
Relative Relative
Temp °C Temp °C
Humidity Humidity

1 20 25.75 75.61% 26.36 77.27%

2 22 24.84 74.34% 26.36 77.27%

3 24 26.13 77.95% 26.36 77.27%

The table shows the raw data that was collected from the hygrometer and air conditioning
trainer. Before starting any of the aforementioned procedures, the room temperature
needs to be monitored in order to compare the data from the thermostat and the
hygrometer. The trainer's temperature is represented by the thermostat in the tables; for
this exercise, the thermostat is set to 20, 22, and 24 degrees Celsius. The trainer needs to be
turned on and then each predetermined temperature needs to be applied. The temperature
on the evaporator region will then be read by the hygrometer device to ascertain the
evaporator temperature and relative humidity %.

Psychrometric Process

The study of the characteristics of air and the connections among them is known as
psychometry. Psychrometric processes deal with modifications to the state of moist air,
usually in relation to HVAC systems that heat, cool, humidify, or dehumidify. It functions
best when moist air is a mixture of dry air and water vapor. The temperature of the dew
point, relative humidity, specific volume, enthalpy, humidity ratio, dry and wet bulb
temperatures, and specific volume are the main characteristics of moist air. A
psychrometric chart is commonly used to investigate psychometric processes because it
provides a visual representation of the many characteristics of wet air. Constant dry-bulb
temperature, constant wet-bulb temperature, constant relative humidity, constant
enthalpy, and constant specific volume are usually represented on the chart.
This section shows the psychrometric processes of each trial through a
psychrometric chart.

 For Trial 1: Thermostat = 20 C

Condition: Supply Air – T = 25.75 C, RH = 75.61%

Outside Air – T = 26.36 C, RH = 77.27%

Figure 1: Psychrometric Chart of Trial 1

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Thermostat

Figure 2: Magnified version on Psychrometric chart of Trial 1

This first trial presents a scenario that compares the pre- and post-operational
circumstances of an air conditioning trainer. At the beginning, the room's temperature was
measured to be 26.36 degrees Celsius and its relative humidity was 77.27%. A hygrometer
sensor was used to detect the evaporation temperature, which was 25.75 degrees Celsius
with a relative humidity of 75.61%, after the trainer was turned on. The thermostat was set
to 20 degrees Celsius. This suggests that the air conditioning system was successful in
effectively cooling and dehumidifying the space because there has been a decrease in both
temperature and relative humidity from the starting circumstances.
The air conditions before and after turning on the air conditioning trainer can be
visually represented by analyzing the scenario using a psychrometric chart. On the
psychrometric chart, the point would initially lie within a certain region that indicates
warm, humid conditions, with a room temperature of 26.36 degrees Celsius and a relative
humidity of 77.27%. Cooling the air effectively was achieved after turning on the air
conditioning trainer and setting the thermostat to 20 degrees Celsius. In comparison to the
starting conditions, the resulting evaporation temperature of 25.75 degrees Celsius and
relative humidity of 75.61% would correspond to a point on the chart at a lower
temperature and humidity.
This change signifies the process of chilling and dehumidification that the air
conditioning system has accomplished. We can visibly monitor changes in the qualities of
the air by using the psychrometric chart, which validates that the system is capable of
reducing the humidity and temperature inside the building to make it more comfortable.
Enthalpy and other quantities can be found using a psychrometric chart, resulting in an
enthalpy of 66.24 KJ/kg at the evaporation temperature of 25.75 degrees Celsius.

 For Trial 2: Thermostat of 22 C

Condition: Supply Air – T = 24.84 C, RH = 74.34%

Outside Air – T = 26.36 C, RH = 77.27%

Figure 3: Psychrometric Chart of Trial 2

Thermostat

Figure 4: Magnified version on Psychrometric chart of Trial 2

 The room's starting state prior to the air conditioning trainer being turned on.
Based on its location on a psychrometric chart, the air had warm and humid qualities, with
a room temperature of 26.36 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of 77.27%. The
system started cooling the air as soon as the air conditioning trainer was turned on and the
thermostat was set to 22 degrees Celsius. The evaporation temperature, which was
recorded at 24.84 degrees Celsius, and the relative humidity, which was ascertained by the
hygrometer sensor, both indicate a significant drop in temperature and humidity.
The shift in the psychrometric chart shows how well the air conditioning system
works to lower the indoor temperature and relative humidity and provide a more
comfortable atmosphere. The system can effectively offer cooling and dehumidification,
which can improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort. This can be shown by
comparing the pre- and post-operational conditions. A psychrometric chart can be used to
find enthalpy and other quantities. At the evaporation temperature of 24.84 degrees
Celsius, the enthalpy is 62.464 KJ/kg.

The trainer barely reaches the desired temperature after the two trials and the
thermostat is adjusted by 24. It's possible that the two trials chilled the trainer, which is
why raising the temperature to 24 is difficult. In order to satisfy the thermostat's 24 setting,
the group decided to temporarily turn off the machine and allow for at least a little amount
of heat.

 For Trial 3: Thermostat of 24 C

Condition: Supply Air – T = 26.13 C, RH = 77.95%

Outside Air – T = 26.36 C, RH = 77.27%
 Figure 5: Psychrometric Chart of Trial 3

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Thermostat

Figure 6: Magnified version on Psychrometric chart of Trial 3

The air was warm and rather humid, which put it in a certain area on a
psychrometric chart, with a room temperature of 26.36 degrees Celsius and a relative
humidity of 77.27%. The cooling process was started by the air conditioning system when
it was turned on and the thermostat was set to 24 degrees. Then, the temperature that is
being measured—26.13 degrees Celsius—combined with the relative humidity that is
being acquired from the hygrometer sensor—77.95%—indicates a minor rise in humidity
and a moderate fall in temperature as compared to the initial conditions. Adding the
enthalpy value of 68.88 KJ/kg for the temperature at which the evaporation occurs gives
additional information about the air's energy composition.

This movement indicates that the system can accomplish a balance between cooling
and moisture removal, even with a relatively little change in overall circumstances,
according to research on the psychrometric chart. This subtle modification points to a
cautious strategy for addressing climate change, one that would try to preserve comfort
levels while consuming the least amount of energy.

VI. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The three trials' results unequivocally demonstrate that using the air conditioning trainer
changed the interior temperature in a noticeable way. The system successfully adjusted the
temperature and relative humidity levels, demonstrating its capacity to provide cooling and
dehumidification in each case. The small adjustments made in each scenario, particularly to
the thermostat settings and the evaporation temperatures that follow, suggest a deliberate
approach to climate control that might be intended to balance comfort and energy
efficiency. Moreover, use a psychrometric chart made it simpler to observe these
modifications and understand how they changed the properties of the interior air.

Finally, by turning on the air conditioning trainer, it was successfully demonstrated that it
has the ability to reduce indoor temperature and humidity levels and provide a more
comfortable environment. It is advantageous to have a thorough understanding of the
components and operation of air conditioning. It also improves one's proficiency with the
psychrometric spectrum and chart.