Application of Statistical Thermodynamics in Refrigeration

The paper presents the mathematical model for computing the thermodynamical properties in the liquid, gas and two-phase domain by means of statistical thermodynamics. The paper features all important components (translation, rotation, internal rotation, vibration, intermolecular potential energy and influence of electron and nuclei excitation). To calculate the thermodynamic properties of real gases, we have developed the cluster theory, which yields better results than the virial equation. In case of real liquids, the Johnson-Zollweg-Gubbins model based on the modified Benedict-Webb-Rubin (BWR) equation was applied. The Lennard-Jones intermolecular potential was used. The analytical results are compared with the thermodynamical data and models obtained from classical thermodynamics, and they show relatively good agreement. (author)