Provide v, u, h and s for water at given states.
Tables list v, u, h, s for saturated and superheated states by temperature or pressure. Interpolate linearly between rows. Compressed liquids approximate saturated liquid at the same temperature. Software (CoolProp, REFPROP) replaces tables in practice.
Steam at 1 MPa and 300 °C has h≈3051 kJ/kg.
Steam tables give the properties of water needed for most power and heating calculations, so knowing how to read them is an essential skill.
Provide v, u, h and s for water at given states.
Steam tables give the properties of water needed for most power and heating calculations, so knowing how to read them is an essential skill.
Find the state by pressure or temperature, then check whether it is compressed liquid, saturated mixture or superheated vapour, and read the properties accordingly.
Saturated liquid and vapour properties differ substantially, and the mixture properties are obtained by interpolating with quality.
Typical applications include finding the enthalpy of superheated steam entering a turbine, looking up the saturation pressure of water at a given temperature and calculating the work of a pump using liquid properties from tables.
Study "Phase change" first (topic 14 of 105 in Thermodynamics & Fluids). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
Two independent properties needed. Saturated: use P or T only. Mind units.
Steam at 1 MPa and 300 °C has h≈3051 kJ/kg.
The next topic is "Quality of a mixture", which builds directly on this one.
It is classed as Beginner in Thermodynamics & Fluids (topic 15 of 105). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.
Want to practise? Open the interactive course for quick checks, quizzes, simulations and progress tracking.