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Wet Bulb Approximation Formula:
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The wet bulb temperature (Tw) is the lowest temperature that can be reached by evaporative cooling of a wet surface. It's an important meteorological and thermodynamic parameter that indicates the combined effects of air temperature and humidity.
The calculator uses the approximation formula:
Where:
Explanation: This simple approximation is reasonably accurate for typical environmental conditions, though more complex calculations exist for precise measurements.
Details: Wet bulb temperature is crucial for understanding human comfort and safety (heat stress), industrial processes, meteorology, and HVAC system design. High wet bulb temperatures indicate conditions where evaporative cooling becomes ineffective.
Tips: Enter dry bulb temperature and dew point temperature in °C. The calculator will estimate the wet bulb temperature using the standard approximation formula.
Q1: How accurate is this approximation?
A: The approximation is generally within ±1°C for typical environmental conditions (10-40°C) but becomes less accurate at extremes.
Q2: What's the difference between wet bulb and dew point?
A: Dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated, while wet bulb accounts for evaporative cooling effects.
Q3: When is wet bulb temperature most important?
A: Critical for heat stress assessment, cooling tower performance, and understanding human thermal comfort in humid conditions.
Q4: What's considered a dangerous wet bulb temperature?
A: Sustained wet bulb temperatures above 35°C can be life-threatening as they prevent human cooling through sweating.
Q5: Are there more precise calculation methods?
A: Yes, the psychrometric equation provides exact values but requires iterative calculations or specialized tables.