Synonyms: Compressibility factor = Z-factor
Dimensionless multiplier in real gas equation of state which describes the deviation of a real gas from ideal gas behaviour:
(1) | Z = \frac{p V}{\nu \, R \, T} = \frac{p}{\rho} \cdot \frac{M}{R \, T} |
where
p | fluid pressure | \nu | amount of substance |
T | fluid temperature | V | fluid volume |
\rho | fluid density | M | molar mass |
R | gas constant |
It is related to fluid compressibility c as:
|
|
The Z-factor value is trending towards unit value (
Z \rightarrow 1) for incompressible fluids and linear pressure dependence (
Z \rightarrow a \cdot p) for strongly compressible Fluids.
Modelling Z-factor Z(T,p) as a function of fluid pressure p and temperature T is based on Equation of State.
There is also a good number of explicit Z-factor Correlations @models.
See also
Natural Science / Physics / Thermodynamics / Equation of State
[ Fluid Compressibility ][ Gas compressibility ]