Example: Finding thermodynamic properties using NIST website

Sean O'Neill
27 Sept 202004:42
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script introduces an efficient online alternative to traditional lookup tables for determining material properties. It demonstrates how to use the National Institute of Standards and Technology's database to find the specific volume of refrigerant 134a at 13°C and 1.4 bar, showcasing the process of selecting material, setting units, and choosing between isothermal and isobaric properties. The script highlights the ease of accessing graphical and tabular data, as well as downloading it for further analysis in spreadsheets, emphasizing the time-saving benefits over manual interpolation from books.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The speaker dislikes using lookup tables in books due to the inconvenience of flipping or scrolling through pages and the potential need for interpolation.
  • 🌐 An alternative online method for looking up information is introduced, which is often easier and more time-efficient.
  • 🔍 The task at hand is to find the specific volume of refrigerant 134a at a given temperature and pressure.
  • 🏢 The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is highlighted for maintaining an online database of material properties, which is useful for such tasks.
  • 💻 A screen recording is provided to demonstrate how to navigate the NIST website to find the properties of refrigerant 134a.
  • 🔍 The process involves selecting the material (R134a), choosing units (Celsius and bar), and specifying the type of properties (isobaric or isothermal).
  • 📈 The data can be viewed graphically, and specific volume is the key parameter of interest in this context.
  • 📊 The specific volume of R134a at 13°C and 1.4 bar is found to be approximately 0.16099 cubic meters per kilogram.
  • 📋 The data can also be viewed in an HTML table format for those who prefer a tabular representation.
  • 💾 The data can be downloaded for further analysis in a spreadsheet program, which is a valuable feature for detailed examination.
  • 🔄 The script also shows what happens when selecting isothermal properties instead of isobaric, with the same result obtained, demonstrating the consistency of the method.
Q & A

  • What is the main issue with using look-up tables in books or electronic pages?

    -The main issue is that it can be cumbersome to flip through pages or scroll through electronic pages to find the required data, and sometimes interpolation is still needed after finding the data.

  • What alternative method is suggested for looking up information online?

    -The alternative method suggested is using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) website, which maintains an online database of material properties.

  • What specific task is the speaker tasked with in the script?

    -The speaker is tasked with determining the specific volume of refrigerant 134a vapor at 13 degrees Celsius and 1.4 bar.

  • What is the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) known for?

    -NIST is known for refining and maintaining definitions of the kilogram, meter, and other units, as well as maintaining an online database of material properties.

  • How does the speaker suggest using the NIST website to find the properties of refrigerant 134a?

    -The speaker suggests selecting the material (R134a), choosing the units (celsius and bar), selecting kilograms per cubic meter for density, and then specifying the pressure and temperature range.

  • What is the difference between isothermal and isobaric properties in the context of the NIST database?

    -Isothermal properties involve fixing the temperature and looking at a range of pressures, while isobaric properties involve fixing the pressure and looking at a range of temperatures.

  • How can the specific volume of refrigerant 134a be found using the NIST website?

    -After selecting R134a and specifying the pressure and temperature, the specific volume can be found by looking at the graphical representation or the HTML table provided by the website.

  • What is the specific volume of refrigerant 134a vapor at 13 degrees Celsius and 1.4 bar according to the script?

    -The specific volume of refrigerant 134a vapor at 13 degrees Celsius and 1.4 bar is approximately 0.16099 cubic meters per kilogram.

  • How can the data from the NIST website be organized and saved for further analysis?

    -The data can be viewed in an HTML table and downloaded by right-clicking and selecting 'Save As' to save it to a local computer for further analysis in a spreadsheet program.

  • Why is the method of using the NIST website considered faster than using appendices in the back of a book?

    -Using the NIST website is considered faster because it allows for quick data retrieval and does not require flipping through pages or performing interpolation manually.

Outlines
00:00
🔍 Alternative Online Lookup for Refrigerant Properties

The speaker introduces an alternative method to using traditional lookup tables, such as those found in books, which can be cumbersome and time-consuming. They propose using the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) online database, which is renowned for maintaining definitions of units like the kilogram and meter, but also offers a valuable resource for material properties. The example task is to determine the specific volume of refrigerant 134a at 13 degrees Celsius and 1.4 bar. The speaker guides viewers through the process of accessing this information online, emphasizing the ease and precision of this method compared to flipping through pages.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Look up tables
Look up tables are pre-compiled lists of data, often found in the back of books or in electronic formats, which are used to find specific information without the need for complex calculations. In the context of the video, they are presented as inconvenient and time-consuming to use, especially when interpolation is required. The script mentions the frustration of flipping through pages or scrolling through electronic pages to find data, which the video aims to provide an alternative for.
💡Interpolation
Interpolation is a method of estimating a value between two known points in a dataset. In the script, it is mentioned as a step that can be required after finding a data point in a look up table, which can be an additional hassle. The video suggests an online method that could potentially eliminate the need for interpolation by providing more direct access to the needed data.
💡National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is a U.S. federal agency known for its role in refining and maintaining definitions of measurement units like the kilogram and meter. In the video, NIST is highlighted for its online database of material properties, which is used to demonstrate an alternative to traditional look up tables for finding specific volumes of refrigerant 134a.
💡Refrigerant 134a
Refrigerant 134a is a type of coolant used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. In the video, it serves as the example substance for which the specific volume is being determined. The script describes a process to find the specific volume of this refrigerant at a given temperature and pressure using an online resource.
💡Specific volume
Specific volume is a thermodynamic property that represents the volume occupied by a unit mass of a substance. In the context of the video, the specific volume of refrigerant 134a vapor is the key data point being sought. The script demonstrates how to find this value using an online database rather than a traditional look up table.
💡Isothermal
Isothermal refers to a process or condition where the temperature remains constant. In the script, the term is used to describe one of the options for looking up properties of a substance, where the temperature is fixed while other properties, such as pressure or specific volume, are varied.
💡Isobaric
Isobaric is the opposite of isothermal, referring to a condition where the pressure is held constant while other variables change. The video script uses this term to describe the process of looking up the specific volume of refrigerant 134a at a constant pressure of 1.4 bar and varying temperatures.
💡Density
Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance. In the video, density is initially presented graphically, but the focus quickly shifts to specific volume, which is the inverse of density. The script uses density as a contrasting property to illustrate the type of data available in the online database.
💡Graphical representation
Graphical representation is a method of displaying data in the form of charts or graphs, which can make it easier to visualize relationships and trends. The script describes how the online database initially presents the density of refrigerant 134a graphically, allowing for a quick visual assessment of the data.
💡HTML table
An HTML table is a structured format used to organize and display data in rows and columns on a webpage. In the video, the script mentions the option to view the specific volume data for refrigerant 134a in an HTML table format, providing an alternative to the graphical representation for those who may prefer a more traditional data layout.
💡Data download
Data download refers to the ability to save data from a website to a local storage device, such as a computer. The script highlights the usefulness of being able to download the specific volume data for refrigerant 134a, which can then be analyzed in a spreadsheet program, providing a convenient way to work with the data offline.
Highlights

Introduction of an alternative method for looking up data online instead of using traditional look-up tables.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is highlighted for maintaining an online database of material properties.

Demonstration of using NIST's website to determine the specific volume of refrigerant 134a at given conditions.

The process of selecting the material (R134a) and specifying units (Celsius and bar) on NIST's database.

Explanation of choosing density measurement in kilograms per cubic meter for the specific lookup.

Differentiating between isothermal and isobaric properties and selecting isobaric for the demonstration.

Entering the specified pressure (1.4 bar) and temperature range for the lookup.

Increasing the precision of the reported values for more accurate data retrieval.

Graphical presentation of the density and specific volume of R134a for the specified conditions.

Identification of specific volume as the required property with units of cubic meters per kilogram.

Confirmation of the retrieved data for R134a to ensure no accidental selection of a different substance.

Availability of additional quantities and data representation in an HTML table format.

Option to download data for further analysis in spreadsheet programs.

Exploration of the isothermal property selection and its impact on the data retrieval process.

Consistency of the specific volume value between isobaric and isothermal property lookups.

Highlighting the efficiency and time-saving aspect of using online databases compared to traditional methods.

Emphasis on the ease of use and the practicality of NIST's online database for material properties.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Refrigerant 134aNIST DatabaseMaterial PropertiesIsothermalIsobaricSpecific VolumeTemperature RangePressure RangeData RetrievalInterpolation