The NIST REFPROP database for highly accurate properties of industrially important fluids

Published

June 21, 2022

Author(s)

Marcia L. Huber, Eric W. Lemmon, Ian Bell, Mark O. McLinden

Abstract

The NIST REFPROP database is a powerful tool for calculating thermophysical properties of industrially important fluids, and this manuscript describes the models implemented in, and features of, this database. REFPROP implements the most accurate models available for selected pure fluids and their mixtures that are valid over the entire fluid range including gas, liquid, and supercritical states, with the goal of uncertainties approaching the level of the underlying experimental data. The equations of state for thermodynamic properties are primarily of the Helmholtz energy form; a variety of models are implemented for the transport properties. We document the models for the 147 fluids included in the current version. A graphical user interface generates tables and provides extensive plotting capabilities. Properties can also be accessed through third-party apps or user-written code via the core property subroutines compiled into a shared library. REFPROP disseminates international standards in both the natural gas and refrigeration industries, as well as standards for water/steam.

Citation

Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.2c01427

Local Download

Keywords

Equations of state, REFPROP, surface tension, thermal conductivity, thermodynamic properties, viscosity

Citation

Huber, M. , Lemmon, E. , Bell, I. and McLinden, M. (2022), The NIST REFPROP database for highly accurate properties of industrially important fluids, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.2c01427, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=934606 (Accessed October 13, 2025)