Chapter 27: Physical Properties

Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers, 5th Edition

by Stephen Hall

This Excel workbook includes Visual Basic for Application function subroutines.
Macros must be enabled for them to work.
 Problem Statement:
Calculate the viscosity of a mixture of n-hexane (10 mole%), n-heptane (50 mole%), and n-
octane (40 mole%), at 20 degC

Input
Component mole% MW Viscosity at 20C, cP
n-hexane 0.1 86.18 0.310
n-heptane 0.5 100.21 0.409
n-octane 0.4 114.23 0.540
1.0

Calculations
Component mol% x MW wt% ln(viscosity) wt% x ln(mu)
n-hexane 8.62 0.08 -1.1711829815 (0.10)
n-heptane 50.11 0.48 -0.8940401229 (0.43)
n-octane 45.69 0.44 -0.6161861394 (0.27)
104.42 1.00 (0.80)

Answer: 0.451 cP
 Problem Statement:
Estimate the viscosity of an emulsion

Inputs
Continuous Phase
Viscosity 20 cP

Dispersed Phase
Viscosity 30 cP
Volume Fraction in the emulsion 0.3

Output
Viscosity of the emulsion 36.29 cP
 Problem Statement:
Calculate Antoine Coefficients

Procedure 1. Choose a fluid from the pull-down menu in cell C10

2. Enter row numbers to use for the calculation in cells A13:A15
3. Read answers in cells F13:F15

Fluid Ethyl Alcohol 12

log10(p) = A - (B/(C+t))
row Temp, Deg C VP, mm Hg Intermediate: 0.8188149022
9 63.5 400 A 7.9983294251
11 97.5 1520 B 1524.18227318
12 126 3800 C 218.951106618

Data (from Perry's)

Temp, C
Pressure, mm Hg Methyl Alcohol Propane Toluene Acetic Acid
1 1.0 -44 -128.9 -26.7 -17.2
2 5.0 -25.3 -115.4 -4.4 6.3
3 10.0 -16.2 -108.5 6.4 17.5
4 20.0 -6 -100.9 18.4 29.9
5 40.0 5 -92.4 31.8 43
6 60.0 12.1 -87 40.3 51.7
7 100.0 21.2 -79.6 51.9 63
8 200.0 34.8 -68.4 69.5 80
9 400.0 49.9 -55.6 89.5 99
10 760.0 64.7 -42.1 110.6 118.1
11 1,520.0 84 -25.6 136.5 143.5
12 3,800.0 112.5 1.4 178 180.3
13 7,600.0 138 26.9 215.8 214
14 15,200.0 167.8 58.1 262.5 252
15 22,800.0 186.5 78.7 292.8 276.5
16 30,400.0 203.5 94.8 319 297
17 38,000.0 214 312.5
18 45,600.0 224

Same calculation procedure, but choosing from different mixture concentrations instead of a list of pure compounds

Acetic Acid Concentration 25% Fit: 100.0% 1

log10(p) = A - (B/(C+t))
row Temp, Deg C VP, mm Hg Intermediate: 0.7684928613
1 20 16.3 A 8.3774146407
10 65 178 B 1902.80985982
17 100 743 C 245.561698212

Acetic Acid in Solution

mm Hg
deg C 25 wt% 50 wt% 75 wt%
1 20 16.3 15.7 15.3
2 25 22.1 21.4 20.8
3 30 29.6 28.8 27.8
4 35 39.4 38.3 36.6
5 40 51.7 50.2 48.1
6 45 67 65 62
7 50 87.2 85 80.1
8 55 110 107 102
9 60 141 138 130
10 65 178 172 162
11 70 223 216 203
12 75 277 269 251
13 80 342 331 310
14 85 419 407 376
15 90 510 497 458
16 95 618 602 550
17 100 743 725 666
 R2 fit Max Error
Over the data range 0.996 24.85%
Over the selected range 1.000 1.90%

Nitrogen Ammonia n-Butane n-Pentane n-Hexane n-Heptane n-Octane Ethyl Alcohol

-226.1 -109.1 -101.5 -76.6 -53.9 -34 -14 -31.3
-221.3 -97.5 -85.7 -62.5 -34.5 -12.7 8.3 -12
-219.1 -91.9 -77.8 -50.1 -25 -2.1 19.2 -2.3
-216.8 -85.8 -68.9 -40.2 -14.1 9.5 31.5 8
-214 -79.2 -59.1 -29.2 -2.3 22.3 45.1 19
-212.3 -74.3 -52.8 -22.2 5.4 30.6 53.8 26
-209.7 -68.4 -44.2 -12.6 15.8 41.8 65.7 34.9
-205.6 -57 -31.2 1.9 31.6 58.7 83.6 48.4
-200.9 -45.4 -16.3 18.5 49.6 78 104 63.5
-195.8 -33.6 -0.5 36.1 68.7 98.4 125.6 78.4
-189.2 -18.7 18.8 58 93 124.8 152.7 97.5
-179.1 4.7 50 92.4 131.7 165.7 196.2 126
-169.8 25.7 79.5 124.7 166.6 202.8 235.8 151.8
-157.6 50.1 116 164.3 209.4 247.5 281.4 183
-148.3 66.1 140.6 191.3 203
78.9 218
89.3 230
98.3 242

a list of pure compounds

 Mean: 227.9
Predicted SSreg^2 SStot error
16.30 0 44774.56 0.00%
22.11 0.0001134386 42349.26 0.05%
29.66 0.0039272575 39298.04 0.21%
39.38 0.0004188911 35539.97 0.05%
51.76 0.0040000862 31024.16 0.12%
67.40 0.163194872 25758.97 0.60%
86.99 0.0440462368 19855.59 0.24%
111.32 1.7392390793 13591.18 1.20%
141.31 0.0939354694 7498.436 0.22%
178.00 0 2490.01 0.00%
222.59 0.1701552632 28.22264 0.18%
276.41 0.3485984206 2353.179 0.21%
340.97 1.060403485 12784.88 0.30%
417.95 1.1071463352 36118.16 0.25%
509.21 0.6313254894 79132.75 0.16%
616.80 1.4360631669 151244.5 0.19%
743.00 0 265328 0.00%
6.8025674914 809169.9
0.9999915932 1.20%
 Range Total

Mean: 1620 9,250.9

Ethyl Alcohol Predicted SSreg^2 SStot Error
0.8 0.06177444 2621966 85565043 24.85% 1
4.3 0.49108192 2610489 85499420 14.02% 1
9.2 0.66224024 2594721 85409068 8.14% 1
19.2 0.70352376 2562685 85224795 4.19% 1
39.2 0.69900355 2499043 84855877 2.09% 1
59.7 0.09322951 2434553 84478051 0.51% 1
98.6 1.82552225 2314509 83763497 1.35% 1
198.3 2.9590412 2021288 81949731 0.86% 1
400.0 0 1488400 78338234 0.00% 1
745.5 209.523086 764706.4 72341213 1.90% 1
1,520.0 0 10000 59766643 0.00% 1
3,800.0 0 4752400 29712190 0.00% 1
7,713.7 12930.3929 37133325 2362913 1.50% 1
16,083.1 779883.436 2.09E+08 46679247 5.81% 1
24,327.9 2334470.24 5.16E+08 2.27E+08 6.70% 1
32,367.4 3870675.86 9.45E+08 5.34E+08 6.47% 1
40,118.5 4487939.44 1.48E+09 9.53E+08 5.57% 1
49172.977842 12766170.7 2.26E+09 1.59E+09 7.84% 1
Error Sum 24252287.1 5.48E+09 4.27E+09
R2 0.99557235

209.523086 2.4E+08
0.99999913
 Problem Statement:
Given the air pressure and wet and dry bulb temperatures, calculate
the relative humidity

Input
Dry bulb temperature 100 deg F 37.77778 deg C 559.67 deg R
Wet bulb temperature 80 deg F 26.66667 deg C 539.67 deg R
Pressure 760 mm Hg

Constants
Critical Pressure 166818 mm Hg
Critical Temperature 1165.67 deg R

Equation Parameters
C0 4.39553 K0 0.000367
C1 -0.0034691 K1 1571
C2 3.0721E-06 K2 32
C3 -8.8331E-10

Step-by-Step Calculation in Excel, Following the Procedure

PD1 -1.941551197
PW1 -1.872169197
PD2 0.962275446
PW2 0.894729798

PD3 -0.154849295
PW3 -0.138834684

KD 3.261404955
KW 3.279255917

PD 49.07449487
Calculated using the VBA
PW 26.2065928 function subroutine
PM 5.748841248

Output
RH 41.69 #VALUE!
alculated using the VBA
nction subroutine
 Problem Statement:
Demonstrate the use of IAWPS VBA functions to estimate the properties of water and steam

Inputs
Temperature deg K 400
Pressure bar, abs 3

Note: the answer "-1" is returned if the input data are outside the allowable range

Property
Density, single-phase kg/m3 #VALUE!
Specific internal energy, single-phase kJ/kg #VALUE!
Specific enthalpy, single-phase kJ/kg #VALUE!
Specific entropy, single-phase kJ/kg #VALUE!
Specific isobaric heat capacity, single-phase kJ/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Specific isochoric heat capacity, single-phase kJ/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Dynamic viscosity, single-phase Pa-s #VALUE!
Thermal conductivity, single-phase W/(m-K) #VALUE!
Boiling point as a function of pressure K #VALUE!
Vapor pressure bar, abs #VALUE!

Density in saturation state

Boiling water as function of temperature kg/m3 #VALUE!
Boiling water as function of pressure kg/m3 #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of temperature kg/m3 #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of pressure kg/m3 #VALUE!

Specific internal energy in saturation state

Boiling water as function of temperature kJ/kg #VALUE!
Boiling water as function of pressure kJ/kg #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of temperature kJ/kg #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of pressure kJ/kg #VALUE!

Specific enthalpy in saturation state

Boiling water as function of temperature kJ/kg #VALUE!
Boiling water as function of pressure kJ/kg #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of temperature kJ/kg #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of pressure kJ/kg #VALUE!

Specific entropy in saturation state

Boiling water as function of temperature kJ/kg #VALUE!
Boiling water as function of pressure kJ/kg #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of temperature kJ/kg #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of pressure kJ/kg #VALUE!

Specific isobaric heat capacity in saturation state

Boiling water as function of temperature Kj/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Boiling water as function of pressure Kj/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of temperature Kj/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of pressure Kj/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Specific isochoric heat capacity in saturation state
Boiling water as function of temperature Kj/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Boiling water as function of pressure Kj/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of temperature Kj/(kg-K) #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of pressure Kj/(kg-K) #VALUE!

Dynamic viscosity in saturation state

Boiling water as function of temperature Pa-s #VALUE!
Boiling water as function of pressure Pa-s #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of temperature Pa-s #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of pressure Pa-s #VALUE!

Thermal conductivity in saturation state

Boiling water as function of temperature W/(m-K) #VALUE!
Boiling water as function of pressure W/(m-K) #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of temperature W/(m-K) #VALUE!
Saturated steam as function of pressure W/(m-K) #VALUE!
nd steam
 Problem Statement:
Estimate the solubility of a gas in petroleum liquid

Input
Select gas CO2
Temperature 60 deg C -- applicable range -45 C to 150 C
Liquid Density 840 kg/m3 at 15.5 degC
Pressure 1 atm, absolute
Vapor pressure of liquid 0 atm, absolute -- required if greater than 10% of total pressure

Output
Gas solubility in liquid #VALUE! ppm by weight

Data
Gas Ostwald Coeffcient at 0C Molecular Weight
He 0.01 4.003
Ne 0.021 20.179
H2 0.039 2.0158
N2 0.075 28.0134
Air 0.095 28.850334
CO 0.1 28.0104
O2 0.15 31.9988
Ar 0.23 39.948
CO2 1 44.0098
Kr 1.3 83.8
Xe 2 131.3
NH3 2.8 17.0304

Notes
Reference: "Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers"
Calculation is performed in a Visual Basic for Applications function call named "GasSol"
er than 10% of total pressure
 Problem Statement:
Determine the surface tension of benzene at 100 deg C. Its surface tension is 29 dynes/cm at 20 deg
C and its critical temperature is 288.5 deg C

Input
Chemical Benzene
Surface Tension 29.0 dynes/cm
Surface Tension temperature 20.0 C
Critical temperature 288.5 C
Desired Temperature 100.0 C

Output
Surface tension at 100.0 C 19.0 The measured surface tension for benzene at 100 C is 18.2 dynes/cm
s/cm at 20 deg

at 100 C is 18.2 dynes/cm

 Problem Statement:
Estimate the compressibility factor for steam at 200 kPa, 300 C and 800 kPa, 510 C

Input Water Water

Pressure kPa 200 800
Temperature C 300 510

Output
Compressibility Factor Z #VALUE! #VALUE!

Molar Heat Capacity, MCp (ideal-gas state), kJ/kmole-C at tempe

Gas MW -25 0 10 25 50
Acetylene 26.038 39.89 42.02 42.78 43.93 45.65
Air 28.964 29.05 29.07 29.08 29.10 29.14
Ammonia 17.031 35.63 35.64 35.64 35.65 35.65
Argon 39.948 20.88 20.87 20.86 20.86 20.85
Benzene 78.114 66.44 74.06 77.03 81.68 89.22
Butane, iso- 58.124 83.48 90.08 92.69 96.82 103.62
Butane, n- 58.124 85.28 91.27 93.69 97.45 105.33
Butene, 1- 56.108 73.36 79.58 81.96 85.66 91.51
Butene, cis-2- 56.108 67.60 73.27 75.46 78.93 84.51
Butene, trans-2- 56.108 77.33 82.59 84.63 87.82 92.98
Carbon dioxide 44.010 34.70 35.96 36.41 37.12 38.21
Carbon monoxide 28.010 29.09 29.12 29.11 29.15 29.15
Ethane 30.070 47.13 49.88 50.90 52.67 55.72
Ethylene 28.054 38.25 40.91 41.94 45.56 46.12
Heptane, n- 100.205 142.94 154.54 159.01 165.99 177.14
Hexane, n- 86.178 123.40 133.30 137.14 143.11 152.71
Hydrogen 2.016 28.29 28.61 28.69 26.50 28.96
Hydrogen sulfide 34.076 33.31 33.67 33.82 34.03 34.38
Methane 16.043 34.30 34.93 35.20 35.72 36.74
Nitrogen 28.013 29.08 29.11 29.09 29.11 29.12
Oxygen 31.999 29.13 29.24 29.27 29.36 29.48
Pentane, iso- 72.151 101.90 110.37 113.68 118.79 127.34
Pentane, n- 72.151 105.13 112.60 115.57 120.21 130.69
Propane 44.097 64.18 68.78 70.61 73.52 78.56
Propylene 42.081 55.88 59.90 61.46 63.90 67.83
Water 18.015 33.38 33.47 33.49 33.57 33.68

Conversion: 1 Btu/lb-F = 4.1868 kJ/kg-C

Source: GPSA, 12th Edition, except

Argon: ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, 1997
Natural Gas
mole frac Pc Tc y*Pc y*Tc
Methane 0.952 45.8 -82.5 43.6 -78.5
Ethane 0.025 48.2 32.3 1.2 0.8
Propane 0.002 41.9 96.7 0.1 0.2
Butane, iso- 0.0003 42.7 151.8 0.0 0.0
Butane, n- 0.0003 37.5 152.1 0.0 0.0
Pentane, iso- 0.0001 33.4 187.2 0.0 0.0
Pentane, n- 0.0001 33.3 196.4 0.0 0.0
Hexane, n- 0.0001 29.3 234.3 0.0 0.0
Nitrogen 0.013 33.5 -146.9 0.4 -1.9
Carbon Dioxide 0.007 72.8 31.1 0.5 0.2
Oxygen 0.0002 49.8 -118.6 0.0 0.0
Hydrogen 0.000001 12.8 -239.9 0.0 (0.0)
Pseudo-Critical Pressure and Temperature 45.88 atm -79.10 C

Air
mole frac Pc Tc y*Pc y*Tc
Nitrogen 0.78 33.5 -146.9 26.1 -114.6
Oxygen 0.21 49.8 -118.6 10.5 -24.9
Argon 0.009 48.1 -122.3 0.4 -1.1
Water 0.001 217.8 373.9 0.2 0.4
Pseudo-Critical Pressure and Temperature 37.24 atm -140.24 C
 Function ZSI(P, T, Pc, Tc)
' calculates compressibility factor, Z, using SI units
' P = gas pressure, kPa
' T = gas temperature, C
' Pc = gas pseudo-critical pressure, atm
' Tc = gas pseudo-critical temperature, C

eal-gas state), kJ/kmole-C at temperature, C Critical Properties

75 100 125 150 Pc, atm Tc, C Pc, psia Tc, F
47.24 48.72 49.98 51.17 60.6 35.2 890.6 95.3
29.20 29.26 29.34 29.43 39.0 -140.0 573.1 -220.0
35.66 35.67 35.68 35.69 111.5 132.4 1,638.6 270.3
20.84 20.82 20.81 20.80 48.1 -122.3 706.9 -188.2
96.76 104.32 111.32 118.20 47.9 270.6 703.9 519.0
110.41 117.34 123.93 130.52 42.7 151.8 627.5 305.3
110.33 117.02 123.33 130.40 37.5 152.1 551.1 305.7
97.31 103.11 108.49 113.86 39.7 146.4 583.4 295.6
90.15 95.85 101.32 106.80 41.5 162.4 609.9 324.4
98.17 103.39 108.43 113.46 40.5 155.4 595.2 311.8
39.26 40.29 41.20 42.10 72.8 31.1 1,069.9 87.9
29.19 29.26 29.32 29.41 34.5 -240.3 507.0 -400.5
58.82 62.11 65.29 68.56 48.2 32.3 708.3 90.1
48.70 51.28 53.75 56.21 49.7 9.3 730.4 48.7
188.29 199.40 210.05 220.59 27.0 267.1 396.8 512.7
162.31 171.88 181.08 190.19 29.3 234.3 430.6 453.7
29.07 29.13 29.16 29.18 12.8 -239.9 188.1 -399.9
34.73 35.08 35.43 35.79 88.2 100.1 1,296.2 212.1
37.87 39.20 40.53 41.99 45.8 -82.5 673.1 -116.5
29.14 29.20 29.22 29.28 33.5 -146.9 492.3 -232.5
29.65 29.87 30.05 30.27 49.8 -118.6 731.9 -181.4
135.58 144.03 152.01 160.00 33.4 187.2 490.8 369.0
136.16 144.45 152.18 161.45 33.3 196.4 489.4 385.6
83.59 88.82 93.82 98.38 41.9 96.7 615.8 206.0
71.79 75.76 79.58 83.40 45.6 91.8 670.1 197.3
33.83 34.03 34.21 34.42 217.8 373.9 3,200.1 705.1

Perry's, except
water: IAPWS
isopentane: CAMEO Chemicals, NOAA, http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/
air: CodeCogs, http://www.codecogs.com/reference/engineering/thermodynamics
hemicals.noaa.gov/
gineering/thermodynamics/critical_temperature_and_pressure.php