colemanstoops
Chemical
- Nov 1, 2010
- 18
Suppose we have a vessel (e.g., a jacket on a stirred tank) full of Dowtherm A vapor at a known pressure (and let's say it's saturated vapor). Now, we shut off the jacket so there is neither in- nor outflow, and let it cool down by losing heat to the atmosphere.
We have a fixed mass of Dowtherm A in the jacket, and as it cools, some condenses. Naturally, the pressure in the jacket drops simultaneously. Am I off base in presuming that at any given temperature, what we have in that sealed-off vessel is saturated Dowtherm A liquid in equilibrium with its vapor?
Further: I claim that from the starting conditions, we can establish how much Dowtherm A is in this vessel when it gets sealed off. Then--in theory, at least--at any lower temperature/pressure, it should be possible via a flash calculation to establish what fraction of the mass exists as vapor (or liquid, take your pick). Or did I miss something?
Thanks very much.
We have a fixed mass of Dowtherm A in the jacket, and as it cools, some condenses. Naturally, the pressure in the jacket drops simultaneously. Am I off base in presuming that at any given temperature, what we have in that sealed-off vessel is saturated Dowtherm A liquid in equilibrium with its vapor?
Further: I claim that from the starting conditions, we can establish how much Dowtherm A is in this vessel when it gets sealed off. Then--in theory, at least--at any lower temperature/pressure, it should be possible via a flash calculation to establish what fraction of the mass exists as vapor (or liquid, take your pick). Or did I miss something?
Thanks very much.
