University of Babylon /College Of Engineering
Electrochemical Engineering Dept.
Second Stage /Thermodynamics
CUBIC EQUATIONS OF STATE
If an equation of state is to represent the PVT behavior of both liquids and vapors,
it must encompass a wide range of temperatures and pressures. Yet it must not be
so complex as to present excessive numerical or analytical difficulties in
application. Polynomial equations that are cubic in molar volume offer a
compromise between generality and simplicity that is suitable to many purposes.
Cubic equations are in fact the simplest equations capable of representing both
liquid and vapor behavior.
1-The van der Waals Equation of State
The first practical cubic equation of state was proposed by J. D. van der waals for
gases in 1873:
RT
a
P
 2
V b V
RTV 2  a (V  b)
P
(V  b)V 2
PV 3  (bP  RT )V 2  aV  ab  0
(1)
Where
27 R 2TC2
RTC
a
b
64 PC
8PC
PC and TC are critical pressure and temperature which are listed in App. B( J.M.
Smith ,Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics,4th Ed.,1987
McGraw-Hill)
2- Redlich-Kwong Equation
For gases and liquids
P
RT
a
 12
V  b T V (V  b)
(2)
0.42748R 2TC2.5
a
PC
b
1
0.08664 RTC
PC
University of Babylon /College Of Engineering
Electrochemical Engineering Dept.
Second Stage /Thermodynamics
When multiply Radlich-Wkong equation by (V – b) / P gives below equation for
vapor volume calculation
V  b  RT
P

aV  b 
T PV (V  b)
12
To solve this equation use computer program, and for iteration we write:
Vi 1 
aV  b 
RT
b 12 i
P
T PVi (Vi  b)
The initial value V0 is provided by ideal gas equation (V0 = RT / P)
Equation (2) is put into standard polynomial form and this can be used for liquid
volume calculation
V3 
RT 2
bRT
a
ab
V  (b 2 

)V 
0
12
P
P
PT
PT 1 2
Iteration can be written
1
RT 2
ab 
Vi 1  Vi 3 
Vi 

c
P
PT 1 2 
bRT
a
c  b2 

P
PT 1 2
The initial value, take V0 = b.
3- Generalized Redlich-Kwong Equation
When multiply Redlich-Kwong equation by (V / RT)
PV
RT
V
a
V


 12

RT V  b RT T V (V  b) RT
V
a
V
Z
 12

V  b T V (V  b) RT
Z
1
a  h 



1  h bRT 1.5  1  h 
2
University of Babylon /College Of Engineering
Electrochemical Engineering Dept.
Second Stage /Thermodynamics
Where h 
b
b
bP


h ZRT / P ZRT
Elimination of a and b gives
1
4.9340  h 
Z



1 h
Tr1.5  1  h 
h
0.08664 Pr
ZTr
Where
Tr 
T
TC
Pr 
P
PC
Figure 1 for PV diagram showing three such isotherms. Superimposed is the
"dome" representing states of saturated liquid and saturated vapor. For the isotherm
T1 > TC (figure 2) pressure is a monotonically decreasing function with increasing
molar volume. The critical isotherm (labeled TC figure 3) contains the horizontal
inflection at C characteristic of the critical point. For the isotherm T2 < TC,(figure
4) the pressure decreases rapidly in the sub cooled liquid region with increasing V;
after crossing the saturated-liquid line, it goes through a minimum, rises to a
maximum, and then decreases, crossing the saturated-vapor line and continuing
downward into the superheated-vapor region.
Figure -13
University of Babylon /College Of Engineering
Electrochemical Engineering Dept.
Second Stage /Thermodynamics
Figure -2-
Figure -3-
Figure -4-
4