2024-01-31

HX Design Considerations at Critical and Triple Points

Critical Point
 Account for large gradients in properties
– Use more accurate properties
– Use more comprehensive solution methods
 Avoid undesirable temperature distributions
which can decrease HX effectiveness
(temperature pinch or cross)
 Use specialty materials for high
temperatures & pressures

Triple Point
 Account for large gradients in properties
– Use more accurate properties
– Use more comprehensive solution methods
 Accommodate freezing fouling
31. 0°C, 7.38 MPa  Avoid triple point using mixtures with carrier
fluid such as R600a (isobutane) in R744
−56.5°C, 0.52 MPa (carbon dioxide)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercritical_carbon_dioxide
MIE1132H Syllabus & Schedule © 2024 William David Warnica Slide 2

Fluid Properties – Standards

 International Association for the Properties of Water and

Steam
http://www.iapws.org/
– IAPWS-IF97 (Industrial Formulation) is required for performance
guarantees of steam generators
 ASHRAE Library of Psychrometric, Thermodynamic, and
Transport Properties for Real Humid Air, Steam, Water, and
Ice (LibHuAirProp)
https://www.ashrae.org/technical-
resources/bookstore/thermodynamic-properties-of-humid-
air-steam-water-and-ice

MIE1132H Syllabus & Schedule © 2024 William David Warnica Slide 3

1
 2024-01-31

Fluid Properties – Software (1/3)

 KCE-ThermoFluidProperties UG
https://thermofluidprop.com/en/
– LibIF97 – Water & steam according to IAPWS-IF97
– LibSeaWa – Seawater according to IAPWS R13-08 for thermodynamic
properties and current IAPWS industrial formulations for transport
properties
– LibICE – Ice, water and steam including melting and sublimination regions
according to IAPWS-06, IAPWS-IF97 and IAPWS-95
– LibHuAirProp – Humid air according to ASHRAE RP-1485 and RP-1767
 Pressure: 0.01 ≤ p ≤ 10,000 kPa
 Temperature: –143.15 ≤ t ≤ 350 °C
 Humidity ratio: 0 ≤ W ≤ 10 kgw/kga
– LibHuAir_Xiw – Humid air at higher pressures, temperatures, and water
content
 Pressure: 6.112 mbar ≤ p ≤ 1000 bar
 Temperature: –143.15 ≤ t ≤ 1726.85 °C

MIE1132H Syllabus & Schedule © 2024 William David Warnica Slide 4

Fluid Properties – Software (2/3)

MIE1132H Syllabus & Schedule © 2024 William David Warnica Slide 5

2
 2024-01-31

Fluid Properties – Software (3/3)

 NIST Reference Fluid Thermodynamic and Transport

Properties Database (REFPROP)
https://www.nist.gov/srd/refprop
– 147 pure fluids, 5 pseudo-pure fluids (such as air), and mixtures
with up to 20 components
– For example,
 Water & steam
 Numerous refrigerants
 Numerous gases
 Heavy Water – May not conform to IAPWS Standards

MIE1132H Syllabus & Schedule © 2024 William David Warnica Slide 6