Thermodynamics deals with systems of fluids and gases.

Their properties are necessary for most

calculations. These are tabulated, allowing us to perform calculations about the system. There are
different tables for different states and different types of matter. The first step is to identify what states
we are dealing with. Below is a chart (not to scale) of a typical substance that exists as a superheated
vapor, a compressed liquid, or a saturated liquid vapor/mixture. We are given tables for properties
in each of these states. If we are dealing with a mixture, the we use the saturated tables. If we are
dealing with a vapor, we use the superheated tables. For a compressed liquid, however, we can either
use approximations or the compressed liquid tables. Due to the lack of good compressed liquid tables,
however, we typically approximate them.

Identification of the state is generally done with either a Pv diagram or a Tv diagram, and later a Ts
diagram. Either can be used, the graph of state transitions will look the same, and the answers found
will be independent of the diagram type. What will be different is whether we use isobars or isotherms,
lines of constant pressure and temperature, and what the lines look like. The wet dome will look the
same regardless, and is independent of the property we are graphing with respect to as well.
The lines of saturated liquid and saturated vapor are the properties tabulated in the saturated tables.
For some property y; the value of the property for a saturated liquid is given under the yf column, and
for a saturated vapor it is under the yg . The difference between the two columns is given in the yf g
column. If we are given y and another property, we can use the other property to find what yf and yg
are. If y is less than yf , then we know that we are dealing with a compressed liquid. If y is greater
than yg , then the substance is a superheated vapor. If y is between yf and yg , then the substance is a
mixture.
In short:
y < yf : Compressed Liquid
y > yg : Superheated Vapor
yf < y < yg : Saturated Liquid Vapor

This applies in the majority of cases, where we have differing saturated liquid and saturated vapor
values. In the case of temperature and pressure, we do not. If we are given a temperature and a pressure,
we will not usually be dealing with a mixture. This is because the temperature of the substance will
remain constant under the wet dome so long as the pressure is also constant as well. Because of this, we
have saturation temperatures and pressures. We can still determine what state we are dealing with based
on the temperature and pressure. If they equal the saturation values, we are dealing with a mixture.

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If, using the pressure tables, the temperature is less than the saturation temperature, the substance
is a compressed liquid, and if greater, it is a superheated vapor. If, using the temperature tables, the
pressure is greater than the saturation pressure, the substance is a compressed liquid, and if less, it is a
superheated vapor.
So:
T = Tsat and P = Psat : Saturated Liquid Vapor
T < Tsat |P ressure : Compressed Liquid
T > Tsat |P ressure : Superheated Vapor
P > Psat |T emperature : Compressed Liquid
P < Psat |T emperature : Superheated Vapor
(The |P ressure means to look in the pressure table at the given pressure, and |T emperature means to look
in the temperature table at the given temperature)

Now that we know what state we’re in, we can find other properties.
Finding properties of superheated vapors is trivial if we have two properties, since then it’s a table lookup
with a possible interpolation.

To find other properties while under the wet dome, we need a property called quality, or x. Qual-
mg
ity is the percentage of mass in the system that is a vapor. x = mf +m g
Its use underlies a basic principal of systems and their properties: Given a system of a set of masses and
their properties, the properties of the system is given by the sum of the products of the masses and the
properties divided by the sum of the masses. Or:
y = Σm n yn
Σmn
Since quality is the percentage of mass in the system as a fluid, the properties of the system are given
as:
y = yf (1 − x) + yg x = yf + (yg − yf )x = yf + yf g x
Using this equation, given two properties other than the pair of temperature and pressure, we can find
the rest of the properties.

Since it is best not to use the compressed liquid tables to find properties, I will cover the methods
of approximation instead. These are based on the realization that the diagrams drawn are horrendously

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out of scale. If we have a compressed liquid, the properties will typically be very close to the value given
for the saturated fluid in the temperature tables. Enthalpy, however, requires calculation. Since enthalpy
is the sum of the internal energy and the work done by pressure on the system, and we assume that the
specific volume remains constant at the saturation value, we get the following:
hcompressed = hf + vf |T emperature (P − Psat |T emperature )
For everything else though, aside from temperature and pressure;
ycompressed = yf |T emperature

Ideal Gases are pretty simple in comparison. Their properties are solely dependent on temperature.
So if you have any property other than pressure or specific volume, you can find all of the other proper-
ties as well. Ideal gases have their own tables as well, with some special properties of their own. s◦ and
Pr will be used with entropy (s◦ is NOT entropy), and cp is the specific heat of the ideal gas. In most
cases, you will just need the internal energy and the enthalpy of the gas.

As a final note, interpolation is an important calculation for thermodynamics. It is used in calcu-

lating the values between table entries.
∆y
∆x x + y◦ = y
x is the property you have, and y the property you need.