Pressure And Boiling Point

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Volkswagen Passat and 2009 Volkswagen Passat. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The boiling point given in tables for a liquid is always referenced to an atmospheric pressure of 1 bar. If the pressure acting on a fluid changes, its boiling point also changes.

For example, water boils at a lower temperature the lower the pressure.

The vapor pressure curves for water and refrigerant R134a show that, at constant pressure, reducing the temperature changes vapor to liquid (in the condenser) or that reducing the pressure causes the refrigerant to change from liquid to vapor (evaporator).

Vapor pressure curve of water

Fig 1: Identifying Vapor Pressure Curve Of Water Graph

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

A - Fluid

B - Gaseous

C - Vapor pressure curve of water

1 - Pressure acting on liquid in bar (absolute)

2 - Temperature in °C

Vapor pressure curve of refrigerant R134a

Fig 2: Identifying Vapor Pressure Curve Of Refrigerant R134a Graph

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN UNITED STATES, INC.

A - Fluid

B - Gaseous

D - Vapor pressure curve of refrigerant R134a

1 - Pressure acting on liquid in bar (absolute)

2 - Temperature in °C