Throttling Devices

A throttling device is the generic name of any device or process that simply dissipates pressure energy
by irreversibly converting it into thermal energy. Unlike nozzles and diffusers, throttling devices provide
no form of useful energy recovery. They merely convert pressure energy into thermal energy through
dissipative viscous flow processes. A throttle need not have same inlet and outlet flow velocities, and,
therefore, it may have a significant specific kinetic energy changes across it. Throttles may or may
not be insulated, but they are usually such small devices and have such high flow rates that the
residence time of the fluid in them is too short for significant heat transport of energy to occur.
Consequently, a throttling device is commonly taken to be adiabatic regardless of whether it is actually
insulated or not.

Joule Kelvin (Joule-Thompson) Effect

The throttling phenomenon, also known as Joule – Kelvin /Joule –Thompson effect, may be
demonstrated by considering a steady-state, steady flow (SSSF) process across a restriction, with a
resulting drop in pressure. The restriction can be a porous plug, an orifice plate, a butterfly valve, any
type of flow or pressure control valve. Even a geometry like sudden contraction or sudden expansion
may give the desired effect [Fig. 1.19].

Fig: 1.19 (a) Orifice plate, (b) Porous plug, (Butterfly/throttle Valve ), (d) Any type of
flow or pressure control valve (e) sudden expansion, (f) Sudden contraction
The pressure and temperature of the fluid upstream and down stream of the restriction are measured
with suitable manometers and thermometers [Fig. 1.20].

Fig. 1.20 Joule Thompson effect

Let pi and Ti be the arbitrarily chosen pressure and temperature before throttling and let us assume
that they are constant. By operating the restriction (say, a valve) the fluid is throttled successively to
different pressures and temperatures pƒ1, Tƒ1; pƒ2, Tƒ2; pƒ3, Tƒ3 and so on. These are then plotted on the
T -p plane [Fig. 1.3].

Fig. 1.21 Isenthalpic states of a gas

All the points on this curve represent equilibrium states of some constant mass of the fluid. The curve
passing through all these points is an isenthalpic curve or isenthalpe.
The initial pressure and temperature of the fluid (pi, Ti) are then set to new values and the fluid is
throttled by controlling the restriction. Thus by throttling to different states we can have a family of
isenthalpes for the fluid [Fig. 1.22]. The curve passing through the maxima of these isenthalpes is
called the inversion curve.

Fig. 1.22 Inversion and saturation curves on T-s plot

The numerical value of the slope of an is enthalpe on the T - p diagram at any point is called the Joule
–Thompson coefficient µj.

1.190

Locus of all points at which µj is zero is the inversion curve. The region inside the inversion curve
where µj is negative is called the heating region and where µj is positive is called the cooling region.

The difference in enthalpy between two neighboring equilibrium states is

dh = Tds + vdp 1.191

and the second T - dS relation (per unit mass)

1.192

The second term in the above equation stands only for a real gas, because for an ideal gas dh = CpdT

1.194
For an ideal gas:
pv = RT 1.195

1.196

There is no change in temperature when an ideal gas is made to undergo a Joule-Thompson

expansion.

For an incompressible fluid:

1.197

Thus, an incompressible fluid is heated while undergoing throttling process.

Application of Joule-Thompson effect:

1. Vapor compression refrigeration system

2. Production of dry ice or solid CO2 for low temperature refrigeration

Example:

Joule-Kelvin coefficient µj is a measure of the temperature change during a throttling process. A

similar measure of temperature change produced by an isentropic change of pressure is provided by
the coefficient µs were

Prove that:

Solution: The Joule –Kelvin coefficient µj is given by

Maxwell's Relations