The Thermodynamic Properties Database
This introduction booklet demonstrates the use of the built-in thermodynamic properties database in the Liquid & Gas Properties Module. The purpose of this module is to calculate thermodynamic and transport properties for pure solutions and mixtures of chemical compounds. Properties such as enthalpy of formation, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, density, and diffusivity can be computed using a range of models. These properties can be calculated for fluids consisting of a single gas phase or a single liquid phase and for liquid–liquid, vapor–liquid, and vapor–liquid–liquid systems. For multiphase systems, the equilibrium composition can also be calculated, for example, to calculate the phase envelope for a liquid mixture at equilibrium with its vapor phase (flash calculations).
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The first example in this booklet, namely Engine Coolant Properties, shows the use of the thermodynamic properties database in the investigation of a liquid coolant for internal combustion engines. A mixture of ethylene glycol and water is studied, and the built-in thermodynamics functionality is used to show how the boiling point, density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, and heat capacity all depend on the composition of the coolant mixture, and how changes in these properties affect the cooling process.
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The second example considers a tubular Heat Pipe with Accurate Liquid and Gas Properties. A copper cylinder, with an inner cavity and a porous water saturated copper wick, allows evaporated water to flow from the hot end to the cold, depositing its latent heat. The effect of loss of working fluid is analyzed, and the relative importance of transfer of vapor at normal operating conditions is evaluated.
The thermodynamic properties database in the Liquid & Gas Properties Module can be combined with any module that deals with transport in fluids — for example, the CFD Module, Mixer Module, Heat Transfer Module, Pipe Flow Module, and Subsurface Flow Module.