Introduction

Abstract

This book on thermodynamic properties of cryogenic fluids was developed by researchers in the Center for Applied Thermodynamic Studies (CATS), established at the University of Idaho College of Engineering in 1975 under the direction of Professor Richard B. Stewart. Since its inception, the primary focus of the research in CATS has been the development of standard reference quality thermodynamic property formulations for fluids of engineering interest, including cryogenic fluids. CATS researchers have developed new formulations for the thermodynamic properties of nitrogen, argon, oxygen, air, neon, ethylene, cyclohexane, CFC-11, CFC-12, HCFC-22, HCFC-123, and HFC-134a, as well as formulations for natural gas and other hydrocarbon mixtures, refrigerant mixtures, and mixtures of nitrogen, argon, and oxygen. These formulations have been published in theses, dissertations, and journals, including the Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, the International Journal of Thermophysics, and Fluid Phase Equilibria. More recently the Center has expanded to include measurement of thermophysical properties. The work of the Center also includes research on thermal energy systems, including ground-coupled heat pumps. The activities of the Center involve the production of thermodynamic property tables and graphs for over 30 fluids. Studies on the thermodynamic analysis of engineering systems that use second law concepts for the selection of optimum design parameters have also been made.