What occurs with an increase in moisture content of the air while the dry bulb temperature remains constant?

Prepare for the Master Mechanical License Test with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question includes hints and detailed explanations. Get confident for your exam!

When the moisture content of the air increases while maintaining a constant dry bulb temperature, the enthalpy of the air must increase. Enthalpy is a measure of the total energy of a thermodynamic system and includes both internal energy and the energy associated with pressure and volume.

As moisture is added to the air, it not only increases the mass of the air but also the energy content due to the latent heat of vaporization. Water vapor has a higher enthalpy than dry air at the same temperature. Thus, when the humidity increases, the energy required to maintain the same temperature increases because the added water vapor contributes additional energy to the system.

This relationship is significant in HVAC and other mechanical systems, particularly when calculating heating and cooling loads since higher humidity levels can influence both comfort levels and system efficiency. An understanding of how enthalpy changes with moisture content is crucial for effective climate control.

The other options do not accurately reflect the thermodynamic principles involving moisture content and enthalpy under constant temperature conditions. Therefore, increased enthalpy is indeed the correct concept when considering what happens to air with higher moisture content at a constant dry bulb temperature.

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