Submitted by Wulphram t3_10446y9 in askscience
SamQuan236 t1_j3ct8x5 wrote
Ever use a pump to inflate a tyre? I've given myself small burns by underestimating how much heat was released by gas compression. When you release the pressure, the gas cools, like when using a spray can - it can also get very cold.
Different gasses will change temperatures at different rates when pressurised, this is given by the Joule Thompson coefficient Hydrogen is a notable one, as it has a negative coefficient (i.e. it does the opposite of most gasses) near room conditions.
The_Astronautt t1_j47jqkg wrote
Is this correct? My understanding is that when a gas exapands it draws in energy from the surroundings. Which is why its previous vessel cools down like how you mentioned the can getting cool, but the gas itself gained energy. Meanwhile, a gas compressor is used in AC units to force the gas flowing through the line to release its heat which is then dissipated across a radiator with air flowed over by a fan. Am I missing something?
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