THERMODYNAMICS - THEORY

T-v Diagram

Phase Change Process Under Constant

Pressure
Click to view Movie (112 kB)

The phase-change process of water under 1 atm

described in the previous section can be repeated for
different pressures. Put all the processes in the T-v
diagram. A line connected by all the saturated liquid
states is called saturated liquid line. All the saturated
vapor states are connected to create the saturated
vapor line. When pressure becomes as high as
Pcr(critical pressure), the saturated liquid state and the
saturated vapor state become a single point in T-v
diagram. This point is called the critical point. For
water, Pcr equals 22.09 MPa, Tcr (critical temperature)
equals 374.14 oC. At pressure above the critical
pressure, there will not be a distinct phase.
The saturated liquid line and saturated vapor line
divide the region on the T-v diagram into three
regions: subcooled liquid region, saturated liquidvapor region and superheated vapor region.

The Process of Creating T-v Diagram

Click to View Movie (112 kB)

The Construction of T-v Diagram

P-v Diagram

Piston-cylinder Device for P-v Diagram

The water vaporization process can also be described

in P-v diagram. The method of creation the P-v
Diagram is much like the method for the T-v diagram.
By considering the piston-cylinder device again, the
temperature keeps constant by heat transfer. The
pressure is changed by removing the weight. Like the
process in previous section, the water will become
saturated liquid, saturated mixture, saturated vapor
and superheated vapor if enough heat added. The
process is repeated under several different
temperatures and plot them in a P-v diagram. By
connecting all the saturated liquid states under

different temperatures, one can create the saturated

liquid line and connecting all the saturated vapor
states, one can create the saturated vapor line on the
P-v diagram. There are three regions on the P-v
diagram: subcooled liquid region, saturated liquidvapor region, and superheated vapor region.

The Process of Create P-v Diagram

The Construction of P-v Diagram

P-v Diagram Including Solid Phase

The above diagram can be extended to include solid
phase as well as the solid-liquid and solid-vapor
regions. Under some conditions, all three phase can
coexist in equilibrium. On a P-v diagram, it forms the
triple line and on a T-v diagram, it forms only a point
called the triple point.

The Construction of P-v Diagram of a Substance That Contracts (left) or Expends (right) on Freezing

P-T Diagram
The P-T diagram is called the phase diagram because
three phases are separated from each other by three
lines (sublimation, melting, and vaporization). The
three lines meet at the triple point where three phases
coexist in equilibrium.

The Construction of P-T Diagram