| Property | Symbol | Typical Units | Description | |----------|--------|---------------|-------------| | Dry‑bulb temperature | T | °C or °F | Ordinary air temperature measured by a standard thermometer | | Wet‑bulb temperature | T w | °C or °F | Temperature recorded by a thermometer with a wet wick; indicates cooling by evaporation | | Dew‑point temperature | T dp | °C or °F | Temperature at which condensation begins for a given moisture content | | Relative humidity | RH | % | Ratio of actual water vapor pressure to saturation pressure at same dry‑bulb | | Humidity ratio (mixing ratio) | W | kg water /kg dry air | Mass of water vapor per mass of dry air | | Enthalpy | h | kJ/kg dry air or Btu/lb dry air | Total heat content (sensible + latent) | | Specific volume | v | m³/kg dry air | Volume per unit mass of dry air | | Vapor pressure | p w | kPa or psi | Partial pressure exerted by water vapor in the mixture | Excel does not have built‑in psychrometric functions. Instead, we must implement empirical correlations from ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals. The most important is the saturation vapor pressure over liquid water (Hyland‑Wexler formulation, valid 0–200°C):
| Known 1 | Known 2 | Solve for → | Method | |---------|---------|-------------|--------| | T_db, RH | All others | Direct | | T_db, W | RH | Inverse via ( p_w = (W \cdot P)/(0.62198+W) ) then RH = 100*p_w/p_ws | | T_db, T_wb | W, RH, h, v | Iterative (solve Carrier equation) | | T_db, h | W, RH, T_wb | Quadratic from enthalpy equation | | T_dp, T_db | RH, W | RH = p_ws(T_dp)/p_ws(T_db) *100 |
[ v = \frac0.2871 \cdot (T_db + 273.15)P \cdot (1 + 1.6078 \cdot W) ] where 0.2871 = gas constant for dry air (kJ/kg·K), ( P ) in kPa.
=0.61094*EXP(17.625*B3/(B3+243.04)) Cell B6: psychrometric chart calculator excel
=B5 * (B4/100) Cell B7:
[ RH = \fracp_wp_ws(T) \times 100% ]
[ W = 0.62198 \cdot \fracp_wP - p_w ] where ( P ) is total atmospheric pressure (typically 101.325 kPa at sea level). The factor 0.62198 is the ratio of molecular weights of water (18.01528) to dry air (28.9645). | Property | Symbol | Typical Units |
For (pressure in kPa, temperature in K):
This write‑up explains the science behind psychrometric calculations, the mathematical formulas required, step‑by‑step construction of an Excel calculator, practical applications, and advanced automation techniques. Before building the calculator, we must define the key properties of moist air, treating it as a mixture of dry air and water vapor.
[ \ln(p_ws) = \fracC_8T + C_9 + C_10 T + C_11 T^2 + C_12 T^3 + C_13 \ln(T) ] Before building the calculator, we must define the
[ p_ws = 0.61094 \cdot \exp\left( \frac17.625 \cdot T_dbT_db + 243.04 \right) ] where ( T_db ) is in °C, result in kPa. 1. Humidity ratio from vapor pressure
=$B$2*0.62198*B6/($B$2-B6) Wait – careful: ( W = 0.62198 * p_w / (P - p_w) ). So correct formula:
Start with the direct formulas (T_db, RH → all outputs). Then add inverse solving via Goal Seek. Finally, if you find yourself repeatedly computing wet‑bulb or dew point, invest an afternoon in writing VBA functions—you will never need a paper chart again. Word count: approx. 1,950
Introduction Psychrometrics—the study of the thermodynamic properties of moist air—is fundamental to HVAC design, building science, agricultural storage, and industrial drying processes. The standard tool for visualizing these relationships is the psychrometric chart, a complex graph with dry-bulb temperature on the x‑axis and humidity ratio on the y‑axis, overlaid with curves for relative humidity, wet‑bulb temperature, specific volume, and enthalpy.
=0.62198 * B6 / (B2 - B6) Cell B8: