Real gas choked flow conditions at low reduced-temperatures

Real gas choked mass flux is calculated for a frictionless stream expanding isentropically until it reaches the speed of sound and without phase changes. The other parameters associated with the choked state are the pressure, density, temperature ratios, and the speed of sound. Departure of the choked mass flux from the ideal gas model is discussed first in absolute terms and then in relative terms, using the Principle of Corresponding States, for gases with boiling points in the low temperature range. Reduced-stagnation pressures are examined up to values of 30 for hydrogen, neon, nitrogen, argon, methane, krypton, xenon, and R-14 and up to 100 for ⁴He. The corresponding reduced-stagnation temperatures go down to 1.4 and in some cases down to 1.2 for nitrogen and argon. Also discussed are the limiting values of stagnation parameters for which no phase change occurs in the choked state. Compared to the ideal gas, the mass flux may almost double and the critical pressure ratio may decrease by an order of magnitude. The relevance of results is discussed qualitatively and quantitatively for Joule-Thomson cryocooling.