New Steam Properties are Coming
Bellows, J.C.; Friend, D.G.; Harvey, A.H.; Levelt Sengers, J.M.H.; Parry, W.T.; Sengers, J.V.; Sewell, J.B.; and White, Jr., H.J.
Proc. 61st American Power Conference, Vol. II, pp. 589-593 (1999)
The IFC-67 Formulation for Industrial Use (familiar to many from its implementation in the ASME Steam Tables) for the thermodynamic properties of water and steam has served as the international steam property standard for contractual and design calculations in the power industry for 30 years, but is showing its age. The International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS), under whose auspices IFC-67 resides, has developed and adopted the IAPWS Industrial Formulation 1997 (IAPWS-IF97) as the successor to IFC-67.
While the new property formulation will be a significant improvement, the changeover to IAPWS-IF97 will present major challenges for some users. In particular, there could be large economic impacts on manufacturers and buyers of boilers and turbines if they do not properly account for the new property calculations. This article, in addition to describing the structure and advantages of the new formulation, provides guidance for how to make this changeover as painless as possible.