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A steam table is a reference table that displays the properties of water and steam at different temperatures and pressures. It is used by engineers and scientists to find the specific enthalpy, entropy, and other thermodynamic properties of water and steam for a given temperature and pressure combination.
The units used in a steam table depend on the specific table being used. However, the most common units are temperature in degrees Celsius (°C), pressure in kilopascals (kPa), specific enthalpy in kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg), and specific entropy in kilojoules per kilogram-kelvin (kJ/kg-K).
A steam table is typically organized in a tabular format, with the temperature and pressure values listed in the first column and row respectively. The other columns and rows display the corresponding thermodynamic properties for the given temperature and pressure combination.
Using a steam table allows for quick and accurate calculations of thermodynamic properties of water and steam. This is particularly useful in engineering and scientific applications, such as designing and analyzing steam power plants, boilers, and turbines.
By inputting the known temperature and pressure values into a steam table, the corresponding thermodynamic properties can be found. These properties can then be compared to the actual values measured in a system to determine the state of water or steam, such as whether it is a liquid, vapor, or superheated vapor.
