How To Calculate Saturation Temperature From Pressure

Steam Table Interpolation Formula:

\[ T_{sat} = T_1 + \frac{(P - P_1)}{(P_2 - P_1)} \times (T_2 - T_1) \]

Saturation Temperature (T_sat):

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1. What Is Saturation Temperature?

Saturation temperature is the temperature at which a pure substance changes phase at a given pressure. For water, it's the temperature at which liquid water and water vapor coexist in equilibrium at a specific pressure.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses steam table data and linear interpolation:

\[ T_{sat} = T_1 + \frac{(P - P_1)}{(P_2 - P_1)} \times (T_2 - T_1) \]

Where:

\( T_{sat} \) — Saturation temperature (°C)
\( P \) — Input pressure (Pa)
\( P_1, P_2 \) — Pressure values from steam table bracketing the input pressure
\( T_1, T_2 \) — Corresponding temperature values from steam table

Explanation: The calculator finds the two closest pressure values in the steam table and performs linear interpolation to estimate the saturation temperature.

3. Importance Of Saturation Temperature Calculation

Details: Accurate saturation temperature calculation is crucial for HVAC system design, power plant operation, refrigeration systems, and various industrial processes involving phase change.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter pressure in Pascals (Pa). The calculator works for pressures between 611.2 Pa (triple point) and 22,064,000 Pa (critical point).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are steam tables?
A: Steam tables are comprehensive datasets that provide thermodynamic properties of water and steam at various temperatures and pressures.

Q2: Why use interpolation instead of a direct formula?
A: The relationship between pressure and saturation temperature is complex and nonlinear. Steam tables provide precise values, and interpolation gives accurate results between table entries.

Q3: What is the critical point of water?
A: The critical point is at 22.064 MPa (22064000 Pa) and 373.95°C, where the distinction between liquid and gas phases disappears.

Q4: Can this calculator be used for other substances?
A: No, this calculator is specifically for water. Other substances have different thermodynamic properties and require different data tables.

Q5: How accurate is linear interpolation for this purpose?
A: Linear interpolation provides good accuracy for most engineering applications when using steam tables with sufficiently small pressure intervals.