| Thermodynamics Directory | Heat Transfer Directory
An increase in temperature will tend to
decrease the density of any fluid. If the fluid is confined
in a container of fixed volume, the effect of a temperature
change will depend on whether the
fluid is compressible.
If the fluid is a gas, it will respond to a temperature
change in a manner predicted by the ideal
gas laws. A 5% increase in absolute temperature will result
in a 5% increase in the absolute
pressure.
If the fluid is an incompressible liquid in a closed
container, an increase in the temperature will
have a tremendously greater and potentially catastrophic
effect. As the fluid temperature increases, it tries to expand, but expansion is prevented by
the walls of the container. Because
the fluid is incompressible, this results in a tremendous
increase in pressure for a relatively
minor temperature change. The change in specific volume for a
given change in temperature
is not the same at various beginning temperatures. Resultant
pressure changes will vary. A
useful thumb rule for water is that pressure in a water-solid
system will increase about 100 psi for every 1 °F increase in temperature.
© Copyright 2000 - 2009, by Engineers Edge, LLC All rights reserved.
Disclaimer
|
