Assessment of the Computing Time for the IAPWS-IF97 Equations

Abstract

Computing times of equations based on the IAPWS Industrial Formulation 1997 for the Thermodynamic Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS-IF97) were tested. Modern computer systems are optimized for “simple” computational operations, which favors the simple structure of IAPWS-IF97. Provision of “backward equations,” which are approximation of inverse equations, is one of the features of IAPWS-IF97. The backward equations showed much shorter computing times than iterative routines, which had been used to calculate with several independent variables. IAPWS-IF97 is faster than the equations of IAPWS Formulation 1995 for the Thermodynamic properties of Ordinary Water Substance for General and Scientific Use (IAPWS-95) by factors 70 to 200 times.