Key variables:
- Q = Air volumetric flow (cfm)
- H = Enthalpy (BTU/lb)
- T = Dry bulb temperature (°F)
- W = Humidity ratio (lb water / lb dry air)
Primary Capacity Formulas
Total BTU/h = cfm × (H₁ − H₂) × 4.5
Sensible BTU/h = cfm × (Tdb₁ − Tdb₂) × 1.085
Latent BTU/h = Total BTU/h − Sensible BTU/h
Back-Calculating Leaving Air
To find an unknown leaving-air dry bulb when the sensible capacity is known (from the equipment tech guide capacity table at a given entering condition):
Tdb₂ = Tdb₁ − (Sensible BTU/h ÷ (cfm × 1.085))
To find an unknown leaving-air enthalpy (then read wet bulb off the chart):
H₂ = H₁ − (Total BTU/h ÷ (cfm × 4.5))
Elevation & Atmospheric Pressure
Atm. Press. (psia) = 14.696 × (1 − 0.0000068753 × Elev)5.2559
APinHg = AtmPress × 2.03602
Psychrometric Functions (from workbook VBA)
The HumRat, RelHum, and DewPoint macros in the original workbook are ASHRAE-based. Saturation vapor pressure uses the Hyland-Wexler polynomial over Rankine temperature, with constants c8…c13. This page runs an exact JavaScript port so the numbers match the spreadsheet cell-for-cell.
Rules of Thumb
- Face velocity should not exceed 550 FPM through a wet cooling coil to avoid moisture carryover.
- The 1.085 sensible constant = 0.24 (Cp of air) × 60 (min/hr) × 0.075 (lb/ft³ at sea level) ≈ 1.08. This tool uses 1.085 throughout for consistency with modern ASHRAE practice; older references use 1.08 or 1.1.
- Water conversion: 7000 grains per pound, 8.33 pounds per gallon.