Thermo Utilities v3.0, MS Excel Add-ins

• Brief description and downloading
• How to install
• Macro development and error handling
• How to order

Thermo Utilities v3.0 is a software package developed for engineers and scientists who wish to design, analyze or optimize power plants, air conditioning systems and other chemical processes. It supports MS Excel 7.0 and higher and it will run on PC platforms with operating systems Win 95, Win 98, Win NT 3.51 and higher.

Thermo Utilities offers a large number of functions for calculating the properties of water, steam, air, flue gases and other fluids. The functions used for steam and water properties are based on a set of equations accepted by the members of the Sixth International Conference on the Properties of Steam. The sets of equations are also known as "IFC Formulation for Industrial Use". Thermo Utilities calculates the properties of dry air, moist air, exhaust and flue gases by using equations accepted by ASHRAE and CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers). Lee-Kesler method used in this package can be applied to a large number of chemicals for estimating thermodynamic properties. The database accompanied with this package for use with Lee-Kesler method supports more than 450 chemicals. The package also offers a large number of inverse functions which are useful for applied thermodynamics calculations. The features are:

• Support for VBA (Visual Basic for Application)
• User selectable units for inputs/outputs
• Calculates enthalpy, entropy, specific volume, dryness fraction, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and dynamic viscosity
• All inverse functions, needed in applied thermodynamics applications, are provided. More about this can be found in the help files.
• Material database for: normal freezing point, normal boiling point, critical pressure, critical temperature, critical specific volume, critical compressibility factor, Pitzer's acentric factor, dipole moment, standard enthalpy of formation and Gibb's energy of formation.
• Molecular weight calculator.

Download the latest version, about 1.75 Mb

There is also a number of worksheets available for registered users. These worksheets cover combustion of coal, biomass and fossil fuel, compressor, condenser design, cooling with dehumidification, closed-feed heaters, gas turbine, mixing of two air streams, regenerative steam cycle, sensible cooling/heating process, steam turbine and steam valve/throttling process.

The instructions below are also available as a PDF file ready for printing, click here to download. You must have approximately 2.7 Mb of free disk space to install the program. Before you install "Thermo Utilities":

• Make sure that you have installed the latest "Service Pack" for Windows operating system.
• Make sure that you have installed the latest "Service Pack" for your "EXCEL" or "Office" software.

The installation procedure is as follows:

• In case, you need to login into your computer to use it, you should login as administrator to install the software.
• Copy "TUXL30.ZIP" to a suitable folder and unzip the file.
• Run the "SETUP.EXE" program in the folder containing the installation files.
• Follow the instructions in the install program.
• While you are logged in as administrator, you should give access to the software to all users that are allowed to use the software.

For doing this, click on Windows "start" button, select "Program" then select "Thermo Utilities" folder and then right click with mouse, select properties, select security, among the following options for the user (Full Control, Modify, Read & Execute, Read & Write) select "Full Control" and push "OK" button. The following instructions are Windows Vista only:

1. Click Start and Control Panel.
2. Switch to Classic View (if you haven't already) and click on the Administration Tools icon.
3. In the list that opens click on Local Security Policy, and in the next window, Local Policies (a tiny bit redundant, but all UIs can't be perfect -- If UAC is running you'll get a UAC pop-up somewhere in here).
4. In the Local Policies list click Security Options, and scroll down to "User Account Control: Behavior" (the full title of the policy is "User Account Control: Behavior of the elevation prompt for administrators in Admin Approval Mode" but the window barely opens that far).
5. Double-click the title and in the dialog box change its setting from "Prompt for Consent" to "Elevate without prompting."

Unit selection:

Thermo Utilities supports a large number of units for inputs and outputs. Run the program "setunit.exe" before you start your calculations. Select your desired units. Below here you will see a screenshot of "setunit.exe".

The unit conversion will apply to both inputs and outputs. If you activate "UNIT.XLA", you can use the strings for the current unit in your worksheet, which improves the readability and security of your calculations. It should be mentioned that Cv, specific heat capacity at constant volume has the same unit as Cp. Steam quality or dryness fraction and Gamma are dimensionless parameters.

How to activate functions

In order to activate steam/water functions in MS Excel perform the following procedure:

1. Start your Excel program
2. Select "Tool"
3. Select "Add-ins"

Then browse C:\THERMOXL\STMXL.XLA

For air and flue gas functions browse C:\THERMOXL\AIRXL.XLA

For Lee-Kesler method functions browse C:\THERMOXL\LKXL.XLA

For unit conversion function browse C:\THERMOXL\UNIT.XLA

You can deactivate any of these groups of functions by deselecting them.

Functions for properties of steam/water

When you activate STMXL.XLA, you have access to all steam/water functions. By pressing fx button in MS Excel a dialog over all function comes up. Select "User Defined" and you will have a list over all user defined functions. When you pick a function, a brief description of the function appears at the bottom of the dialog box. If you press "Next", Excel will continue with a dialog box that asks for the necessary inputs for the function. In case, you press "Enter" button, you should fill all the parameters with numbers, cell reference, variable name and so on. These are the normal Excel functions behavior and is not specific for this program. If you need more help please see the on-line help of MS Excel or the user manual. The function names are compatible with the DLL version of steam properties. Those users who upgrade to this version from DLL version of steam properties will find several new functions. There are some simple rules that will help you to remind function names. Here, you have a complete list of functions for properties of steam and water. A print of this page will be helpful if you are new to this package.

Functions for properties of air/flue gases

Functions for properties of air/flue gases are based on equations accepted by ASHRAE and are compatible with formulations accepted by CIBSE (Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers). When you activate AIRXL.XLA, you have access to all air/flue gases functions. By pressing button fx in MS Excel a dialog over all function comes up. Select "User Defined" and you will have a list over all user defined functions. When you pick a function, a brief description of the function appears at the bottom of the dialog box. If you press "Next", Excel will continue with a dialog box that asks for the necessary inputs for the function. In case, you press "Enter" button, you should fill all the parameters with numbers, cell reference, variable name and so on. These are the normal Excel functions behavior and is not specific for this program. If you need more help please see the on-line help of MS Excel or the user manual. The function names are compatible with the DLL version of Air and Exhaust Gas properties. Those users who upgrade to this version from DLL version of Air and Exhaust Gas will find several new functions. There are some simple rules that will help you to remind function names. Here, you have a complete list of functions for properties of Air and Exhaust Gas. A print of this page will be helpful if you are new to this package.

Fluid properties utility for use with Lee-Kesler method

The current version of Lee-Kesler method support 467 different chemical compounds. You can use the utility software "fluidpro.exe" to view, edit or add new entries to our database. When you edit or add new entries, you should use the units mentioned in ellipses below. This limitation apply only to database entry, our software will use the default unit for input/output as you selected by "setunit.exe" as described before. The database supports the following:

• Normal freezing point (Tfp, K)
• Norma boiling point (Tb, K at 1 atmosphere)
• Critical temperature (Tc, K)
• Critical pressure (Pc, bar)
• Critical specific volume (Vc, cm3/mol)
• Critical compressibility factor (Zc, no dimension)
• Pitzer's acentric factor (Omega, no dimension)
• Dipole moment (DipM, debyes)
• Standard enthalpy of formation (DELHF, J/mol)
• Standard Gibbs energy of formation (DELGF, J/mol)

A word of caution, in case you add/remove entries in the middle of database, the fluid index will be changed. Here is a screenshot of "fluidpro.exe".

Functions for Lee-Kesler method

These functions compute the thermodynamic properties of chemicals by using reduced pressure and temperature. When you activate LKXL.XLA, you have access to these functions. By pressing fx button in MS Excel a dialog over all function comes up. Select "User Defined" and you will have a list over all user defined functions. When you pick a function, a brief description of the function appears at the bottom of the dialog box. If you press "Next", Excel will continue with a dialog box that asks for the necessary inputs for the function. In case, you press "Enter" button, you should fill all the parameters with numbers, cell reference, variable name and so on. These are the normal Excel functions behavior and is not specific for this program. If you need more help please see the on-line help of MS Excel or the user manual. The function names are compatible with the DLL version of steam properties. Those users who upgrade to this version from DLL version of steam properties will find several new functions. There are some simple rules that will help you to remind function names. Here, you have a complete list of functions. A print of this page will be helpful if you are new to this package.

Simple rules to remind function names

All functions for steam/water properties start with STM then comes abbreviations for inputs needed and at last the output. Some examples are STMPTH needs P, pressure and T, temperature and calculates H, specific enthalpy, STMPHT needs P, pressure and H, specific enthalpy and calculates T, temperature. The same rule applies to functions for dry air, moist air and flue gases. Functions for dry and moist air start with Air and functions for flue gases start with Flue. All functions for dry/moist air need mc, moisture content. Therefore it has been omitted from the function's name. The same is with the flue gas functions all of them need the volumetric or mole fraction of the gases. Functions for screen hygrometer start with Screen and functions for sling hygrometer start with Sling . These functions calculate SH, specific humidity, RH, relative humidity, PS, percentage saturation and VWR, volumetric water ratio.

Abbreviations:

• Cp: Specific heat capacity at constant pressure
• Cv: Specific heat capacity at constant volume
• Dv: Dynamic viscosity
• Gamma: Ratio of Cp/Cv
• GC: Gas constant
• H: Specific enthalpy
• mc: Moisture content
• MM: Molecular mass
• P: Pressure
• PS: Percentage saturation
• Q: Steam quality = dryness fraction = 1 - wetness fraction
• RH: Relative humidity
• S: Specific entropy
• SH: Specific humidity = moisture content
• T: Temperature
• Tc: Thermal conductivity
• V: Specific volume
• VWR: Volumetric water ratio

Molecular Weight Calculator 

Molecular weight of any compound can be computed by using its chemical formula.

• This function supports all atoms in the periodic system.
• It should work even if you do not have any registration key.
• Fractional multipliers are allowed.
• Fractional numbers less than 1 should begin with 0.

You can view our function prototypes and VBA interface by selecting "Tool", "Macro", "Visual Basic Editor" in Excel. By developing your own macros you can speed up your calculations and also make your own dialog boxes for input/output.

Error handling/reporting for Steam/water functions

All functions return large negative numbers in case of error. No function returns a negative number less than -1000 no matter what units are used. The returned values and reasons are:

• -1001: The pressure is outside the acceptable range specified in IFC formulation for Industrial use!

          0.01 bar < P < 1000 bar

• -1002: The temperature is outside the acceptable range specified in IFC formulation for Industrial use!

          0 C < T < 800 C

• -1003: Dryness fraction should be within the following limits:

          0.0= < Q < = 1.0

• -1004: Pressure of the wet steam may not be more than 221.0 bar (pressure at critical point is 221.2 bar) i.e.

          P <= 221.0 bar

• -1005: Temperature of the wet steam may not be more than 374.0 C (temperature at critical point is 374.15 C) i.e.

         T <= 374.0 C

• -1012: It is impossible to find a point with the specified pressure [P] and specific entropy [s]!
• -1013: It is impossible to find a point with the specified pressure [P] and specific volume [v]!
• -1014: It is impossible to find a point with the specified pressure [P] and specific enthalpy [h]!
• -1015: Inputs are not enough to determine the state of the steam or water. Pressure and temperature are too close to wet steam data.
• -1016: Pressure and temperature are too close to critical point.
• -1017: Specific volume is too small.

Error handling/reporting for Air and flue gas functions

All functions return large negative numbers in case of error. No function returns a negative number less than -20E+9 no matter what units are used. The returned values and reasons are:

• -21E+9: Moisture content, mc, is not acceptable!

      0 =< mc < 0.30

• -22E+9: Volumetric compositions should be within the interval zero and one and the sum must be one.
• -23E+9: Temperature should be within the following limits:

        -40 C < T < 1500 C

• -24E+9: It is impossible to find a temperature with the specified specific enthalpy.
• -25E+9: It is impossible to find a temperature with the specified specific entropy.
• -26E+9: It is impossible to find a temperature with the specified specific heat capacity.
• -27E+9: The wet bulb temperature is limited to:

        -40 C < T < 70 C

• -28E+9: The following condition should be satisfied:

        DryBulbT >= WetBulbT

• -29E+9: This combination of dry and wet bulb temperatures are not possible!
• -30E+9: Pressure is outside the acceptable range:

1. bar < P < 20 bar

• -31E+9: Gas constant is too small.

Error handling/reporting for Lee-Kesler functions

All functions return large negative numbers in case of error. No function returns a negative number less than -2000. No matter what units are used. The returned values and reasons are:

• -2001: The pressure is outside the acceptable range!

        0.01 < Pr < 10

        Pr = Reduced pressure = P/Pcr

        Pcr = Critical pressure

        P = Pressure

• -2002: The temperature is outside the acceptable range!

        0.3 < Tr < 4.0

        Tr = Reduced temperature = T/Tcr

       Tcr = Critical temperature

       T = Temperature

• -2003: Dryness fraction should be within the following limits:

       0.0= < Q < = 1.0

• -2004: Pressure of wet vapor may not be more than Pcr i.e.

       Pr < = 1.0

• -2005: Temperature of wet vapor may not be more than Tcr i.e.

       Tr < = 1.0

• -2012: It is impossible to find a point with the specified reduced pressure [Pr] and reduced specified entropy [sr]!
• -2013: It is impossible to find a point with the specified reduced pressure [Pr] and compressibility factor [Z]!

          Z = ( V * P ) / ( R * T )

          V = Specific volume

          R = Gas Constant = 8.3144 J/(mol.K) = 10.732 psia.ft2/(lb-mol.R)

• -2014: It is impossible to find a point with the specified reduced pressure [Pr] and reduced specific enthalpy [h]!
• -2015: Inputs are not enough to determine the state of the fluid. Pressure and temperature are too close to wet vapor data.
• -2016: It is impossible to find a point with the specified reduced pressure [Pr] and reduced fugacity-pressure ratio [f]!
• -2020: Acentric factor is out of acceptable range.

         -0.5 < Af < 2.0

 The above function description and error handling is also available as a PDF file ready for printing, click here to download.

Before ordering your registration key, please check that everything works on your computer. Many functions of Thermo Utilities v3.0 should work even if you do not have a registration key. If there is any problem, do not hesitate to contact us. We solve all the problems, before you order our product. When you order you will receive your registration key that enables all the functions. It is not possible to transfer the registration key from one computer to other. As a registered user you will receive to registration keys per each license you order. Or in other words for every license you order we issue one free license for the same software for backup purposes. You can order the extra license at any time. Some customers use this when they upgrade the computer/OS. Some others install one copy as a backup on a desktop at the office and use the other on a laptop in the field. You decide how you would like to use the extra license. If you wish to order your registration key, please run the program register.exe and:

1. Type your name, company name, fax number and your email address (blank if not applicable)
2. Select the Add-ins you wish to order
3. Press the Order button
4. You may print the generated file, "order.txt", and mail or fax it to us or send it by email.
5. Pay the registration fee

Here is a screenshot of registration utility:

The prices of the registration keys are:

• Steam and water properties, MS Excel Add-ins 129 USD
• Air and flue gas properties, MS Excel Add-ins 119 USD
• Lee-Kesler method, MS Excel Add-ins 139 USD

Please click on the link to order.