Temperature dependence of gas properties in polynomial form

By James Randolph Andrews

Subjects: Heat, Tables, Gases, Conduction, Thermal properties, Viscosity

Description: Based on a least-squares polynomial approximation, a procedure is introduced for calculating existing tabular values of thermodynamic and transport properties for common gases. The specific heat at constant pressure is given for 238 gases, the thermal conductivity for 55 gases, the dynamic viscocity for 58 gases, and the second and third virial coefficients for 14 gases. At sufficiently low pressures, ideal gas behavior prevails and temperature may be used as the single independent variable. The algorithm for nested multiplication is presented, optimized for hand-held or desktop electronic calculators. Using the polynomial approximations and a suitable calculator, it is possible to duplicate existing reference source tabular values directly, obviating the need for interpolation or further reference to the tables per se. The accuracy of the calculated values can be within 0.5% of the tabular values. The polynomial coefficients are given in the International System of Units (SI). Methods are presented to calculate the temperature corresponding to a given property value. Extrapolation features of the polynomials are discussed.