Steam is the common name for water vapor that is superheated, meaning it is heated significantly higher than the boiling point of water. As a gas, steam does not have a fixed volume or shape. Engineers conduct steam through pipes for a number of different purposes, ranging from household heating to transferring energy in a nuclear plant. They have to size the steam pipes carefully; however, because steam's compressibility factor limits the amount of steam that can move through a given space.
Instructions
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1
Take temperature and pressure readings for the steam pipe for which you are interested in finding the compressibility factor. Record the levels and mark the units of measurement.
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2
Run your preferred Web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Firefox.
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3
Navigate to a superheated steam calculator (see References). Enter the readings for the steam pipe. Select the correct units to ensure that your measurements match.
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4
Click "Calculate." Record the number in the "Compressibility Factor of Steam" field.