Diseño e implementación de un software de propiedades psicométricas para la industria de HVAC

Abstract

This paper presents the design and implementation of software for calculating psychrometric properties and analyzing air conditioning processes, designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the HVAC sector. The starting point was identifying the actual needs of these companies: various existing programs were reviewed, and technical and engineering personnel were consulted to define the application's functional and technical requirements. Based on this, software was developed in Python, using a graphical interface built with Tkinter, which allows for the calculation of humid air properties (such as dew point temperature, humidity ratio, enthalpy, and specific volume), the representation of points on an interactive psychrometric chart, and the mapping of typical air conditioning processes. Furthermore, the program includes functions for editing points and processes, exporting results, and working at different atmospheric pressures, making it useful both at sea level and in high-altitude cities. Validation was performed using a set of 50 test cases, comparing the software's results with a reference library and a commercial psychrometric program. Average relative errors of less than 0.6% were achieved for all evaluated properties. User testing was also conducted, revealing a significant reduction in calculation time and a positive perception of ease of use. Overall, the software offers a precise and practical tool that can support the daily work of HVAC SMEs and serve as a valuable resource for training students and professionals in HVAC.