Band-integrated infrared absorptance of low-molecular-weight paraffin hydrocarbons at high temperatures

The spectral absorptance of the 3.4-microm band of methane, ethane, propane, and butane has been measured with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer over a range of temperatures from 296 to 900 K. The measurements were made at a 4-cm(-1) resolution and integrated over the entire band to give the total absorptance. The total absorptance is found to behave in such a way that it can be correlated by a combination of algebraic expressions that depend on the gas temperature and concentration. Average discrepancies between the correlations and the measurements are less than 4%, with maximum differences of no greater than 17%. In addition, the correlations presented here for methane are shown to be in good agreement with established models. Expressions given for the integrated intensity of each gas show an inverse dependence on temperature, reflecting the associated change in density.