Zittau researcher develops reference equation

At the annual international conference “Thermophysical Properties for Technical Thermodynamics,” which focuses on the thermophysical properties of working fluids, Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Herrmann of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Division of Technical Thermodynamics, presented a newly developed calculation equation for the dynamic viscosity of n-butane.

His work was based on highly accurate measurements of this property conducted during his doctoral studies at the University of Rostock. Subsequently, as part of his research activities as a research assistant at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, Dr. Herrmann worked on deriving transport correlations using the new experimental results he had previously obtained.
The new viscosity equation for n-butane will be included in the next version of the international database of the American Institute of Standards and Technology (USA) as the reference equation for this important working fluid. n-Butane is used as a refrigerant, for example in refrigerators, or as a fuel gas in small gas cylinders, and is an important component of natural gas. In addition, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Hans-Joachim Kretzschmar, Dr. Herrmann, and Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Matthias Kunick—all from the Department of Technical Thermodynamics at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences—presented the department’s latest research findings on the calculation of thermophysical properties of other industrially significant working fluids through three posters.
The venue for this conference rotates annually between the cities of Rostock, Izmir (Turkey), and Baku (Azerbaijan).