Thermodynamics Directory | Heat Transfer Directory

The predominant effect of an increase in pressure in a compressible fluid, such as a gas, is an increase in the density of the fluid. An increase in the pressure of an incompressible fluid will not have a significant effect on the density. For example, increasing the pressure of 100 F water from 15 psia to 15,000 psia will only increase the density by approximately 6%. Therefore, in engineering calculations, it is assumed that incompressible fluids' density remain constant.