Joule Thompson Expansion

Ab Hashemi

4/2/2008

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Throttling Valves
A throttling valve is a steady-flow engineering device
used to produce a significant pressure drop usually
along with a large drop in temperature
In a throttling valve, enthalpy remains constant
No work device - mechanical or other forms
Heat transfer almost always negligible
small area; less time available
PE and KE changes usually negligible

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Throttling Devices

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Joule-Thomson Coefficient

A throttling process produces no change in enthalpy; hence for an

ideal gas the temperature remains constant. For real gases,
however, the throttling process will cause the temperature to
increase or decrease. The Joule-Thomson coefficient, , relates
this change and is defined as:
T

p h

(1)

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A positive value of indicates that the temperature decreases as the

pressure decreases; a cooling effect is thus observed. This is true
for almost all gases at ordinary pressures and temperatures.
The exceptions are hydrogen (H2), neon, and helium, which have
a temperature increase with a pressure decrease, hence <0. Even
for these gases there is a temperature above which the JouleThompson coefficient changes from negative to positive. At this
inversion temperature, =0.
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Joule-Thomson Expansion (1 of 7)
The first law for a closed system on a unit mass basis is:

q = du + pdv

(2)

If the process is reversible, from the second law,

q = Tds

(3)

du = Tds pdv

(4)

dh = du + pdv + vdp

(5)

Hence,

dh = Tds + vdp
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(6)
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Joule-Thomson Expansion (2 of 7)

Let us analyze the Joule-Thomson coefficient to gain insight into

why the coefficient changes sign:

s = f (T , p )

(7)

s
s
ds = dT + dp
T p
p T

(8)

Substituting Equation (8) into Equation (6), yields,

s
s
dh = T dT + T dp + vdp
T p
p T

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(9)

Joule-Thomson Expansion (3 of 7)
For constant T, dT=0

dh = T + v dp
p T

(10)

h
s
= T + v
p T
p T

(11)

or,

For h=f(T,p),

T p h
= 1
p h h T T p

(12)

Re-arranging,

1
T
h

=
(h T ) p p T
p h
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(13)
7

Joule-Thomson Expansion (4 of 7)
and,

h
= cp
T p

(14)

Substituting (14) into (13), we get

1 h

c p p T

(15)

We can write,

h = f (T , p )

(16)

Differential of Equation (16) is,

h
h
dh = dT + dp
T p
p T
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(17)

Joule-Thomson Expansion (5 of 7)
Re-arranging Equation (6)

Tds = dh vdp

(18)

Combining (17) and (18)

h
s
= T + v
p T
p T

(19)

Using Maxwell relation

h
v
= T + v
T p
p T

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(20)

Joule-Thomson Expansion (6 of 7)
Substituting (20) into (14), we get

1
cp

v
T
+

v
T

(21)

For an ideal gas, pv=RT

R v
v
= =
T p p T

(22)

Substituting into Equation (21)

=0

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10

Joule-Thomson Expansion (7 of 7)
Substituting h= u + pv into equation (21)

1
u
( pv )

= +

p T
cp
p T
2
142
1
4
4
3
4
3
deviation from Joul 's law deviation from Boyle 's law

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(23)

The first term in the brackets denotes the deviation from Joules law,
which states that the internal energy is a function only of
temperature.
On expansion, there is an increase in the molecular potential
energy, and hence is negative. This results in a positive and a
temperature decrease.
The second term in the brackets indicates the deravation from
Boyles law (that v varies inversely with p) for a real gas. For most
gases at low temperatures and pressures, is negative; however, it
changes sign at higher temperatures and pressures.
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11

Following figures illustrate the plot of on the

T-p and T-s diagrams. Lines of constant
enthalpy are also noted.

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12

Joule-Thompson Expansion

Temperature, T

Maximum Inversion Temperature

h=C

>0
=0

h=C

<0
h=C

Joule-Thompson
Coefficient

T
=
p h

Critical Point

Pressure, p
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1313

Low Pressure Reduction

=0
High
Pressure

Temperature, T

h=C

<0

h=C

>0
h=C

Low
Pressure

Critical Point
P2
Vapor

10%

20% Saturation

Liquid

Region

80%

P1

90%
quality

Entropy, s
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Depending on the JT operating conditions, lower back

pressure has the potential
toHashemi
reduce cooling load
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14

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