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CO2: Adiabatic and Isothermal Phase Behavior PDF

Solid carbon dioxide, also known as dry ice, sublimates directly from a solid to a gas at normal temperatures and pressures. It has a lower melting point than water ice, making it useful as a cooling agent. Dry ice is effective in fire extinguishers because as a compressed liquid, it displaces oxygen when released and further cools the surroundings through adiabatic expansion and sublimation, using its stored energy to smother fires via two mechanisms.

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Arijit Debroy
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128 views1 page

CO2: Adiabatic and Isothermal Phase Behavior PDF

Solid carbon dioxide, also known as dry ice, sublimates directly from a solid to a gas at normal temperatures and pressures. It has a lower melting point than water ice, making it useful as a cooling agent. Dry ice is effective in fire extinguishers because as a compressed liquid, it displaces oxygen when released and further cools the surroundings through adiabatic expansion and sublimation, using its stored energy to smother fires via two mechanisms.

Uploaded by

Arijit Debroy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Solid carbon dioxide: Why it is called dry ice? How does it work in fire extinguishers?

The answer is in
its phase diagram: A wonderful combination of Adiabatic and Isothermal process
Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2), a molecule consisting of a single carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. Carbon
dioxide is a gas at standard conditions [273.15k and 1 bar]. However, at low temperatures and/or high pressures the gas becomes a
liquid or a solid. At normal condition, CO2 is either vapor or solid. It is used primarily as a cooling agent. Its lower temperature than
that of water ice and not leaving any residue is an advantage.

Phase behavior of CO2


Phase behavior of water

The phase diagram for carbon dioxide shows the


phase behavior with changes in temperature
and pressure. The curve between the critical
point and the triple point shows the carbon Water ice: Briefly, it consists of a single oxygen atom covalently
dioxide boiling point with changes in pressure. bonded to two hydrogen atoms, or H–O–H. However, many of the
The curve between the triple point downwards physical properties of water and ice are controlled by the formation
to zero pressure shows the sublimation point of hydrogen bonds between adjacent oxygen and hydrogen atoms;
with changes in pressure (Sublimation: while it is a weak bond, it is nonetheless critical in controlling the
transformation from the solid phase directly to structure of both water and ice. Ice floats because hydrogen bonds
the gas phase). Carbon dioxide in the solid hold water molecules further apart in a solid than in a liquid. The
phase is called dry ice. density of ice is less than the density of water. The triple point of
water is 273.16 K (0.01 °C) and 0.006 atm

In CO2 phase behavior, the only thing special is the position of the triple point which is well above atmospheric pressure. It is
impossible to get any liquid carbon dioxide at pressures of less than 5.11 atmospheres. That means that at 1-atmosphere pressure,
carbon dioxide will sublime at a temperature of -78°C. This is the reason that solid carbon dioxide is often known as "dry ice". You
can't get liquid carbon dioxide under normal conditions - you get only the solid or the vapor. Between CO2 and water phase
behavior, for H2O melting point decreases with increasing pressure, for CO2 melting point increases with increasing pressure.

Special properties of CO2 that make it a choice for use in fire extinguishers

Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers extinguish the fire by taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle and also be removing the
heat with a very cold discharge – this is unique. CO2 does two things [1] being heavier than air, it displaces air and provides a cover
over fire and cuts of supply of oxygen [2] cools the surrounding air, and lowers ignition temperature. These two fundamental jobs of
CO2 explain everything how a fire extinguisher works. When a compressor compresses CO2 in a split-second [adiabatic process] it
does work on gas and adds energy to the gas. This increases its internal energy U, H[enthalpy] = U[internal energy] + PV[work]. This
stored energy is returned by gas to the surrounding when compressed CO2 is sprayed over the fire and it expands. Therefore, the
larger the pressure of the gas in the fire extinguisher larger is its stored energy for the same mass and larger is its ability to cut off O2
supply. CO2 pressure in a fire extinguisher is 55 bar. At 55 bar, CO2 is liquid. When a fire extinguisher is put on the action, the
pressure of CO2 reduces from 55 to 1bar [adiabatic process], CO2 does work to expand by consuming its own internal energy. CO2
cools to solid ice [ > -78.5 degc]. The process does not stop here, solid ice cannot stay as solid at -78.5 degc once it is out in the
atmosphere, solid CO2 sublimes to gas by taking heat from surrounding and cools surrounding. It’s a unique case of both adiabatic
and isothermal thermodynamic changes in a process.

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