A Simplified Method for Computing the Equilibrium Composition of Gaseous Systems

A simplified procedure is described for computing, either manually or by means of punched cards, the equilibrium composition of a gaseous system of any degree of complexity. The method presents a system of n equations in n unknowns in such a form that each of the major components is given as a linear expression of the minor components only, while the logarithm of each of the minor components is given as a linear expression in terms of the free energy change for the dissociation reaction which defines the minor component and the logarithms of the major components and the total pressure. An iteration process then gives an exact solution with a rapidity which decreases as the fuel-oxidant mole ratio approaches the stoichiometric value.