506 Chapter 11 Thermodynamic Relations
where and denote the respective phases, and (dpdT )
sat
is the slope of the relevant satu-
ration pressure–temperature curve.
The Clapeyron equation shows that the slope of a saturation line on a phase diagram de-
pends on the signs of the specific volume and enthalpy changes accompanying the phase
change. In most cases, when a phase change takes place with an increase in specific enthalpy,
the specific volume also increases, and (dpdT )
sat
is positive. However, in the case of the
melting of ice and a few other substances, the specific volume decreases on melting. The
slope of the saturated solid–liquid curve for these few substances is negative, as was pointed
out in Sec. 3.2.2 in the discussion of phase diagrams.
An approximate form of Eq. 11.40 can be derived when the following two idealizations
are justified: (1) v
f
is negligible in comparison to v
g
, and (2) the pressure is low enough that
v
g
can be evaluated from the ideal gas equation of state as v
g
RTp. With these, Eq. 11.40
becomes
which can be rearranged to read
(11.42)
Equation 11.42 is called the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. A similar expression applies for
the case of sublimation.
The use of the Clapeyron equation in any of the foregoing forms requires an accurate rep-
resentation for the relevant saturation pressure–temperature curve. This must not only depict
the pressure–temperature variation accurately but also enable accurate values of the deriva-
tive (dpdT )
sat
to be determined. Analytical representations in the form of equations are com-
monly used. Different equations for different portions of the pressure–temperature curves
may be required. These equations can involve several constants. One form that is used for
the vapor-pressure curves is the four-constant equation
in which the constants A, B, C, D are determined empirically.
The use of the Clapeyron equation for evaluating changes in specific entropy, internal en-
ergy, and enthalpy accompanying a phase change at fixed T and p is illustrated in the next
example.
ln p
sat
A
B
T
C ln T DT
a
d ln p
dT
b
sat
h
g
h
f
RT
2
a
dp
dT
b
sat
h
g
h
f
RT
2
p
EXAMPLE 11.4 Applying the Clapeyron Equation
Using p–v–T data for saturated water, calculate at 100C (a) h
g
h
f
, (b) u
g
u
f
, (c) s
g
s
f
. Compare with the respective
steam table value.
SOLUTION
Known: The system consists of a unit mass of saturated water at 100C.
Find: Using saturation data, determine at 100C the change on vaporization of the specific enthalpy, specific internal energy,
and specific entropy, and compare with the respective steam table value.
Analysis: For comparison, Table A-2 gives at 100C, h
g
h
f
2257.0 kJ/kg, u
g
u
f
2087.6 kg/kg, s
g
s
f
6.048
kJ/kg K.
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Clausius–Clapeyron
equation