Problem 12.

87

Atmospheric air having dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures of 33 and 29°C, respectively, enters
a well-insulated chamber operating at steady state and mixes with air entering with dry-bulb and
wet-bulb temperatures of 16 and 12°C, respectively. The volumetric flow rate of the lower
temperature stream is twice that of the other stream. A single mixed stream exits. Determine for
the exiting stream
(a) the relative humidity.
(b) the temperature, in °C.

Pressure is uniform throughout at 1 atm. Neglect kinetic and potential energy effects.

Known:
Atmosphere air and moist air with given conditions mix adiabatically in a well-insulated
chamber.

Find:
For the exiting stream, determine (a) the relative humidity and (b) temperature.

Schematic & Given Data:

Engineering Model:
(1) The control volume shown in the accompanying figure is at steady state with
and negligible effects of kinetic and potential energy.
(2) The pressure is uniform throughout at 1 atm.
(3) The wet-bulb temperature can be used in place of the adiabatic saturation temperature.

Analysis:
a.) At steady state, mass rate balances give and . Thus

Combining
The mass flow rate ratio is obtained using the given volumetric flow rate relation

1 2 can be calculated using Eq. 12.48 and 12.49 and by assuming constant
1

Solving Eq. 12.43

Inserting values into Eq. (2) gives

Then, with known values, Eq. (1) yields

Accordingly

Then

b.) To find T3 write an energy balance for the control volume with assumption (1):

Thus

Or

With values from Tables A-2 and A-22

(b) Solving iteratively

(a) Returning to Eq. (3)

Comment: The solution of this problem can be facilitated by use of a psychrometric chart.
However, note that the specific enthalpy of moist air appearing on the chart is calculated as
, and not as determined in the above solution.