Fast Calculation of Thermophysical Properties in Extensive Process Simulations with the Spline-Based Table Look-Up Method (SBTL)

The presented Spline-Based Table Look-Up Method (SBTL) is intended to be used for fast and accurate property calculations in computationally extensive process simulations, such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), heat-cycle calculations, simulations of non-stationary processes, and real-time process optimizations, where conventional multiparameter equations of state may be unsuitable because of their computing time consumption. Through the use of the SBTL method, the results of existing property formulations are accurately reproduced at high computational speed. SBTL property functions, their first derivatives, and inverse functions are continuous and numerically consistent with each other. The developed algorithms are successfully applied in commercial and non-commercial software products for CFD, heat-cycle calculations, and simulations of non-stationary processes. The International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam has adopted the “Guideline on the Fast Calculat...