Application of a Two-Sinker Densimeter for Phase-Equlibrium Meaurements: A New Technique for the Detection of Dew Points with Application to the (Methane + Propane) System

Published

March 22, 2016

Author(s)

Mark O. McLinden, Markus Richter

Abstract

We explore a novel method for determining the dew-point density and dew-point pressure of fluid mixtures and compare it to traditional methods. The (p, ρ, T, x) behavior of three (methane + propane) mixtures was investigated with a two-sinker magnetic suspension densimeter over the temperature range of (248.15 to 293.15) K; the measurements extended from low pressures into the two-phase region. The compositions of the gravimetrically prepared mixtures were (0.74977, 0.50688, and 0.26579) mole fraction methane. We analyzed isothermal data by: (1) a “traditional” analysis of the intersection of a virial fit of the (p vs. ρ) data in the single-phase region with a linear fit of the data in the two-phase region; and (2) an analysis of the adsorbed mass on the sinkers. We compared these to a traditional isochoric experiment. We conclude that the “adsorbed mass” analysis of an isothermal experiment provides an accurate determination of the dew-point temperature, pressure, and density. However, a two-sinker densimeter is required.

Citation

Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics

Volume

99

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

adsorption, dew point, experimental uncertainty, gas density, measurements, methane, propane

Citation

McLinden, M. and Richter, M. (2016), Application of a Two-Sinker Densimeter for Phase-Equlibrium Meaurements: A New Technique for the Detection of Dew Points with Application to the (Methane + Propane) System, Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jct.2016.03.035 (Accessed October 22, 2025)