psycrometer

[ReferYankee]

Of course two weeks of recovery and recharging wouldnt be too awful, lots of h-talk time!

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

[penderway]

Anybody tried wrapping a little bit of a wet paper towel around a temperature probe? It was within 1 degree of actual WB.

A sound principle, but not without it's problems. What I like best about your post is that it demonstrates "how it works". It's great to have expensive and accurate test equipment, software etc. but it's even better if you know what it's doing

[hurtinhvac]

I use this formula. (Thanks HVACMedic)

(3 x Entering Wet Bulb - 80 - Outdoor Temp) / 2 = Target Superheat.

Cool. Threw it in excel, entered various numbers against a Carrier charging chart and it proved accurate to .5*.

Piggy-backing on Rundawg's statement " As wet buld increases, more superheat is required," is there a reasonably concise explanation as to science behind this formula?

I feel that, even though I can competently follow direction, charging charts, Lennox's approach method, Tranes charging curves etc; I'm still at a loss as to explain or reason it all the way through.

[penderway]

Cool. Threw it in excel, entered various numbers against a Carrier charging chart and it proved accurate to .5*.

Piggy-backing on Rundawg's statement " As wet buld increases, more superheat is required," is there a reasonably concise explanation as to science behind this formula?

I feel that, even though I can competently follow direction, charging charts, Lennox's approach method, Tranes charging curves etc; I'm still at a loss as to explain or reason it all the way through.

hurtinhavac, Let me know if this explanation is helpful.

With a fixed orifice, the amount of refrigerant that flows through "it" is dependant on the pressure difference across "it".

The pressures are dependant on airflow, humidity and temperature. The airflow is not supposed to change but temperature and humidity of course will.

The condenser pressure is only affected by changes in sensible heat (outdoor dry bulb) but the evaporator is affected by changes in both sensible and latent heat (indoor dry and wet bulb) of which the latent is the driving force.


If the superheat is accurately set for the current conditions, future conditions will vary but never be too high to prevent compressor cooling or too low to cause flooding.

[hurtinhvac]

hurtinhavac, Let me know if this explanation is helpful.

With a fixed orifice, the amount of refrigerant that flows through "it" is dependant on the pressure difference across "it".

The pressures are dependant on airflow, humidity and temperature. The airflow is not supposed to change but temperature and humidity of course will.

The condenser pressure is only affected by changes in sensible heat (outdoor dry bulb) but the evaporator is affected by changes in both sensible and latent heat (indoor dry and wet bulb) of which the latent is the driving force.


If the superheat is accurately set for the current conditions, future conditions will vary but never be too high to prevent compressor cooling or too low to cause flooding.

Now that's what I'm talkin' about...

Thank you.

[bobster]

FYI, Any chart that doesn't require a wet bulb input assumes 50% indoor relative humidity. Charts that specify pressures can be backward engineered to find the same data as the original superheat chart developed by carrier long ago. It applies to all fixed orifice air conditioners and heat pumps (cooling mode of course). The aforementioned formula was curve fitted from the same data and is very close to dead on for most conditions and many find it to be close enough for all conditions.

If the superheat is accurately set for the current conditions, future conditions will vary but never be too high to prevent compressor cooling or too low to cause flooding.

If you need a chart you can have this one

Of course you're right about the 50% RH assumption.

I wasn't aware of the formula, though, which seems much easier & more convenient than using a chart. Thanks!

[jeffpwv]

That is exactly what I do. I figure the water evaporates the same way.

[jeffpwv]

oops! Was in response to the comment about the wet paper towel trick

[jpbhvac]

Is a sling psycrometer required to acuaratly calculate superheat and subcooling as well as a temperature probe. All we have at work is a laser\infered thermometer . Thanks guys and gals

While I no longer use a Sling psychrometer, having a method of determining wet bulb is needed to accurately determine target superheat and subcooling. One you know your target, you can adjust the charge to match the target. +/-3 seems to be a usable SH or SC. Get yourself a slide chart or charging app for your phone and charge away.

Keep in mind Airflow. You may have the correct input information but lack the proper airflow to utilize it.

[bobster]

If the RH is significantly higher or lower than 50%, or the space is not at or near normal temperature, the chart cannot be used.

I'm still:[IMG]http://1.bp.********.com/_wAxDMfEGhoY/TQrlbN4gYXI/AAAAAAAAAXg/kmwztAAni44/s400/Not+Sure+if+serious.jpg[/IMG]

My understanding is that SH measurements taken under a hot pull down condition (i.e., not near normal temp) should not be used to determine the correctness of the charge.

Does that apply to the formula also?

[canusayinsanity]

I recently picked up on a nice digital psychrometer made by SUPCO #dsp1000. Very nice and accurate, give DB,wb, rh, and dew point. Highly recommend it.

[canusayinsanity]

Oh its available at united refrigeration, and about $90 bucks.

[Mr Bill]

I too have never been a fan of infrared thermometers for measuring liquid and suction line temperatures.

But they work great to get the grease right when cooking hot wings.