Question:

Describe the process of ‘Sensible Heating’.

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Sensible heating warms the air without changing its moisture content. It is a horizontal line on the chart.
Updated On: Oct 20, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Define sensible heating:
Sensible heating is a psychrometric process in which the dry bulb temperature of the air rises, but the moisture content of the air stays the same.
No water vapour is added or removed. Only sensible heat is added.

Step 2: How the process is carried out:
The air is passed over a heating coil. The coil can be an electric heater, a hot water coil or a steam coil.
The air takes heat from the coil and becomes warmer.

Step 3: What changes and what does not change:
Dry bulb temperature increases.
Wet bulb temperature and enthalpy increase.
Relative humidity decreases, because warm air can hold more vapour.
Specific humidity (moisture content) and dew point temperature stay constant.

Step 4: Show it on the psychrometric chart:
The process is a straight horizontal line moving to the right, along a line of constant specific humidity.

Final Answer:
Sensible heating raises the dry bulb temperature of air at constant moisture content by passing it over a heating coil, and it is a horizontal line to the right on the chart.
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