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APPENDIX A
PROPERTIES OF COMMON GASES

A Practical Guide to Compressor Technology, Second Edition, By Heinz P. Bloch

Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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FIGURE A.1

Vapor pressure curves for common pure gases.

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C1

Ethene
C2
Propene
C3

1-Butene
i-C4
n-C4
i-C5
n-C5

n-C6
n-C7
n-C8

16.04
26.04
28.05
30.07
42.08
44.09
54.09
54.09
56.10
56.10
58.12
58.12
72.15
72.15
78.11
86.17
100.20
114.22
137.38
120.92
104.47
102.93
86.48
187.39
170.93

0.555
0.899a
0.969a
1.047
1.453a
1.547
1.867a
1.867a
1.937a
1.937a
2.068
2.071
2.491a
2.491a
2.697a
2.975a
3.459a
3.943a
4.78b
4.27
3.62
3.63
3.05
6.04b
6.08

259
119
155
128
54
44
51
24
20
21
11
31
82
97
176
156
209
258
75
22
115
48
41
118
38
0.0424
0.0686a
0.0739a
0.0799
0.1109a
0.1180
0.1425a
0.1425a
0.1478a
0.1478a
0.1578
0.1581
0.190a
0.190a
0.206a
0.227a
0.264a
0.301a
0.365b
0.326
0.276
0.277
0.233
0.461b
0.464

Density
(lb/ft3)
23.61
14.58a
13.53a
12.52
9.021a
8.471
7.018a
7.018a
6.766a
6.766a
6.339
6.327
5.262a
5.262a
4.860a
4.406a
3.789a
3.324a
2.739b
3.067
3.624
3.608
4.299
2.169b
2.155

Specific
Volume
(ft3/lb)
0.506
0.353
0.312
0.365
0.303
0.333

0.133

40F
0.527
0.397
0.362
0.410
0.354
0.389
0.346
0.341
0.370
0.355
0.387
0.391
0.401b
0.410b
0.301b
0.443b
0.474b
0.449b
0.134b
0.145d
0.150
0.136
0.149
0.159b
0.157

60F

At a perfect gas; b At the boiling point; c This group of refrigerants is known by trade names such as Freon and, Genetron; d At 86F.

Methane
Acetylene
Ethylene
Ethane
Propylene
Propane
Butadiene 1, 2
Butadiene 1, 3
Isobutylene
Butylene
Isobutane
n-Butane
Isopentane
n-Pentane
Benzene
n-Hexane
n-Heptane
n-Octane
Refrigerant 11c
Refrigerant 12c
Refrigerant 13c
Refrigerant 21c
Refrigerant 22c
Refrigerant 113c
Refrigerant 114c

Molecular
Weight

Specific
Gravity
(Air
1.00)

Boiling
Point
at 14.696
psia (F)
0.558
0.427
0.406
0.458
0.399
0.443
0.387
0.392
0.419
0.406
0.443
0.444
0.439
0.441

0.141

0.164
0.148
0.161
0.162
0.168

150F
0.624
0.469
0.478
0.543
0.473
0.534
0.451
0.468
0.493
0.484
0.535
0.532
0.529
0.528
0.360
0.526
0.525
0.524
0.156

0.183
0.169
0.182
0.179
0.188

300F

Specific Heat at Constant

Pressure at 14.696 psia
(Btu/lb-F)

1.33
1.31
1.29
1.22
1.18
1.16

1.17

40F
1.31
1.26
1.24
1.19
1.15
1.13
1.12
1.12
1.11
1.11
1.10
1.10
1.07b
1.07b
1.09b
1.06b
1.04b
1.04b
1.14b
1.14d
1.15
1.18
1.20
1.08b
1.09

60F
1.29
1.24
1.21
1.17
1.14
1.11
1.11
1.10
1.09
1.10
1.08
1.08
1.07
1.07

1.13

1.13
1.16
1.17
1.08
1.08

150F
1.25
1.21
1.17
1.14
1.11
1.09
1.09
1.09
1.08
1.08
1.07
1.07
1.06
1.06
1.08
1.05
1.04
1.03
1.10

1.12
1.13
1.14
1.07
1.07

300F

Ratio of Specific Heats K Cp /Cv

at 14.696 psia

8.95
11.12
11.39
13.77
16.79
19.53
20.93
21.26
23.51
22.78
25.75
25.81
31.67
31.82
23.51
38.17
47.49
57.00
19.37
17.53d
17.13
15.23
13.92
30.36
28.72

Molar
Heat at
Capacity at
150F and
14.696 psia
(Btu/F-mol)

344
557
510
550
657
666
799
766
753
756
735
766
830
846
1012
915
973
1025
848
694
544
813
665
877
754

Temperature (R)

673
905
742
708
667
617
653
628
580
583
529
551
483
489
714
440
397
362
635
597
561
750
716
495
474

Pressure
(psia)

Critical
Conditions

10:53 AM

CH4
C2H2
C2H4
C2H6
C3H6
C3H8
C4H6
C4H6
C4H8
C4H8
C4H10
C4H10
C5H12
C5H12
C6H6
C6H14
C7H16
C8H18
CCl3F
CCl2F2
CClF3
CHCl2F
CHClF2
C2Cl3F3
C2Cl2F4

Gas

Alternate
Designation

Values at 14.696 psia

and 60F

Properties of Hydrocarbon and Special Refrigerant Vapors

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Chemical
Formula

TABLE A.1

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Steam

H2S
CH3Cl
Ne
NO
N2
N2O
O2
COCl2
SO2
CH3C6H5
H2O
34.08
50.49
20.19
30.01
28.02
44.02
32.00
98.92
64.06
92.13
18.02

28.97
17.03
39.94
44.01
28.01
70.91
44.05
4.003
2.016
36.47

Molecular
Weight

Specific
Gravity
(Air
1.00)
1.000
0.594
1.380
1.528
0.967
2.48
1.52
0.138
0.0696
1.271
1.175
1.777
0.697
1.038
0.967
1.531
1.105
3.41
2.254
3.181g
0.632h

Boiling
Point
at 14.696
psia (F)
318
28
303
109
312
30
51
451
423
121
79
11
411
240
320
127
297
46
14
231
212
0.0897
0.1356
0.0532
0.0792
0.0738
0.1168
0.0843
0.262
0.1720
0.243g
0.0373h

0.0763
0.0454
0.1053
0.1166
0.0738
0.1886
0.116
0.01054
0.00531
0.0970

Density
(lb/ft3)

11.15
7.372
18.81
12.62
13.55
8.56
11.86
3.82
5.814
4.121g
26.80h

13.106
22.05
9.497
8.576
13.55
5.30
8.62
94.91
188.32
10.31

Specific
Volume
(ft3/lb)

0.233

0.246
0.239
0.249

0.218
0.123

0.240

0.125
0.189
0.249

0.225c

3.324

40F

0.238
0.199f
0.246
0.238
0.249
0.21
0.219
0.136
0.147
0.346h
0.496h

0.240
0.506
0.125
0.201
0.248
0.115
0.264c

3.409
0.194

60F

0.243

0.246
0.238
0.249

0.221
0.146

0.241
0.525
0.125
0.213
0.249

0.302c
1.248d
3.442

150F

0.251

0.239
0.250

0.226
0.158

0.379
0.55i

0.243
0.556
0.124
0.254
0.252

0.355c

3.462

300F

Specific Heat at Constant

Pressure at 14.696 psia
(Btu/lb-F)

1.34

1.66
1.38
1.40

1.40
1.19

1.40

1.67
1.34
1.40

1.25c

1.42

40F

1.33
1.29f
1.66
1.39
1.40
1.30
1.40
1.17
1.25
1.07h
1.32h

1.40
1.30
1.67
1.30
1.40
1.35
1.21c

1.41
1.41

60F

1.32

1.66
1.39
1.40

1.39
1.16

1.40
1.30
1.67
1.28
1.40

1.19c
1.66d
1.40

150F

1.30

1.38
1.40

1.38
1.14

1.06
1.31i

1.39
1.27
1.67
1.25
1.40

1.15c

1.40

300F

Ratio of Specific Heats K Cp/Cv

at 14.696 psia

8.28
10.05f
4.97
7.14
6.98
9.24b
7.07
14.44
9.42b
31.87
8.94

6.98
8.94
4.99
9.37
6.97
8.15b
14.10
5.00
6.94
7.08b

Molar
Heat at
Capacity at
150F and
14.696 psia
(Btu/F-mol)

673
749
80
323
227
558
278
820
775
1069
1165

239
730
272
548
242
751
844
24e
83e
585

Temperature (R)

1306
969
385
956
492
1054
732
823
1142
611
3187

547
1639
705
1073
507
1119
1043
151e
327e
1200

Pressure
(psia)

Critical
Conditions

9.7
59.7

33.2
188

pc (psia)

At 77F; g As a perfect gas; h At the boiling point; i Approximate average for 212600F and 14.7200 psia.

Helium
Hydrogen

Tc (R)

Normal atmospheric air contains some moisture. For convenience it is common to consider that, at 68F and 14.696 psia, the air is at 36 percent relative humidity, weighs 0.075 lb/ft3, and has a k value of 1.395. (Based on ASME Test Code for
Displacement Compressors.); b At 60F; c Within 5%; d An average for 0300F.
e
These are effective values to be used only for generalized compressibility charts and gas mixtures. Actual values are:

NH3
Ar
CO2
CO
Cl2
CH2CH2O
He
H2
HCl

Alternate
Designation

Values at 14.696 psia

and 60F

10:53 AM

Air (dry)a
Ammonia
Argon
Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Chlorine
Ethylene oxide
Helium
Hydrogen
Hydrogen
chloride
Hydrogen sulfide
Methyl chloride
Neon
Nitric oxide
Nitrogen
Nitrous oxide
Oxygen
Phosgene
Sulfur dioxide
Toluene
Water vapor

Chemical
Formula

Properties of Miscellaneous Gases

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Gas

TABLE A.2

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PROPERTIES OF COMMON GASES

503

The generalized charts (Figs. A.2 through A.5) are redrawn by permission from those
developed by L. C. Nelson and E. F. Obert and presented at the 1953 Annual ASME meeting. They were published in Chemical Engineering in July 1954, from which article
Dresser-Rand (formerly Ingersoll-Rand) replotted these curves.
Four charts, based on a study of experimental data on 30 gases, have been prepared to
cover a wide range of values. Although steam (H2O) and ammonia (NH3) were considered,
they do not coordinate well, and since excellent tables and charts of their properties are
available, their specific rather than generalized data should be used at all times. Hydrogen
and helium also cannot be correlated well with these charts, particularly below Tr 2.5,
unless effective or pseudocritical conditions are used in place of the actual critical conditions. Effective conditions are given belowfor use only with generalized charts. These
are as developed in 1960 by John M. Lenior, University of Southern California, Los
Angeles, in the case of hydrogen and by E. F. Obert in his 1953 paper in the case of helium.
A.1 EFFECTIVE CRITICAL CONDITIONS
Tc 24R
Tc 83R

Helium
Hydrogen

pc 151 psia
pc 327 psia

Note, however that three of these noncomformist gases have been included among the
more accurate specific gas compressibility curves and one should always use the latter
when suitable.
The four generalized charts cover the following ranges of reduced pressure and reduced
temperature. The maximum indicated deviation from experimental data is also shown.
Chart

Range pr

Range Tr

Max. Error (%)

1
2
3
4

00.65
06.5
612.5
1042.5

0.75.0
1.015.0
1.015.0
1.015.0

1.0
2.5
2.5
5

A.2 OUTLINE OF PROCEDURE

1. Calculate pseudocritical temperature and pressure for a given gas mixture using the
method outlined later in the text (see Gas Mixtures). If working with a pure gas
rather than a mixture look up the critical temperature and pressure in Table A.1 or A.2.
2. If interested in compressibility at discharge conditions, estimate the discharge temperature T2 from the following formula for adiabatic compression:
T2 T1r (k1)/k
3. Calculate the reduced temperature and pressure for the conditions in question using
Eqs. (1.19) and (1.20).
4. Read the compressibility factor Z from the applicable generalized chart on the following pages.
5. Use this compressibility factor in the proper formula to determine volume or horsepower.

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APPENDIX A

Example A.1 Find the compressibility factors at inlet and discharge conditions for the
following gas mixture when compressed from 315 psia and 100F to 965 psia.
Gas component
Mol %
Step 1:

H2
61.4

N2
19.7

CO2
17.5

CO
1.4

See Section 1.19.

Pseudocritical temperature 195R

Pseudocritical pressure 493 psia
Step 2:

Calculate the theoretical discharge temperature.

r 965/315 3.06
k 1.37 (see Section 1.18)
Theoretical discharge temperature, T2 758R (298F)
Step 3:

Pressure, psia
Temperature, R
Reduced pressure
Reduced temperature
Compressibility (from Fig. A.3)

FIGURE A.2

Inlet

Discharge

315
560
0.64
2.87
1.002

965
758
1.96
3.88
1.025

Generalized compressibility chart for low values of reduced pressure.

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PROPERTIES OF COMMON GASES

FIGURE A.3

FIGURE A.4

505

Generalized compressibility charts for medium values of reduced pressure.

Generalized compressibility chart for moderately high values of reduced pressure.

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APPENDIX A

FIGURE A.5

Generalized compressibility chart for very high values of reduced pressure.