Compressibility factor, usually defined as Z = pV/RT, is unity for an ideal gas. It should not be confused with the isothermal compressibility coefficient. In most engineering work, the compressibility factor is used as a correction factor to ideal behavior. Thus, vreal = Z vid is used to calculate the actual volume, vreal, as the product of the compressibility factor and the ideal gas volume, all at the same pressure and temperature. Z is most commonly found from a generalized compressibility factor chart as a function of the reduced pressure, pr = p/pc, and the reduced temperature, Tτ = T/Tc where pr and Tr are the reduced variables and the subscript 'c' refers to the critical point. (See Corresponding States, Principle of.)
Figure 1 shows the essential features of a generalized compressibility factor chart. The most widely-used compressibility factor charts are apparently those of Nelson and Obert (1954, 1955). These have been extended [see, e.g., Liley (1987)] to include the saturated liquid. A three-parameter correlation Z = f(Pr, Tr, ω), where ω = acentric factor = −log10 pr (Tr = 0.7) −1, involves the use of two compressibility factor charts so that Z = Z0(pr,Tr) + wZl(pr, Tr). [See, e.g., Sonntag, R. E. and van Wylen, G. J. (1991).]
REFERENCES
Nelson, L. C. and Obert, E. F. (1955) Trans. A.S.M.E., 76 (10), 1057-1066 (1954); Laws of corresponding states, A.I. Ch. E. J. 1 (1), 74-77.
Liley, P. E. (1987) Chemical Engineering (NY), 94 (10), 123-126.
Sonntag, R. E. and van Wylen, G. J. (1991) Introduction to Thermodynamics, Classical and Statistical, Wiley, NY, 800 pp.
Verweise
- Nelson, L. C. and Obert, E. F. (1955) Trans. A.S.M.E., 76 (10), 1057-1066 (1954); Laws of corresponding states, A.I. Ch. E. J. 1 (1), 74-77. DOI: 10.1002/aic.690010111
- Liley, P. E. (1987) Chemical Engineering (NY), 94 (10), 123-126.
- Sonntag, R. E. and van Wylen, G. J. (1991) Introduction to Thermodynamics, Classical and Statistical, Wiley, NY, 800 pp.