Patent ID: 7676352

Claim:
A computer implemented method of estimating a thermophysical property of a fluid in an operational industrial process or simulated industrial process using a local model, comprising: receiving, using a computer system, specified values for parameters of the fluid and providing the specified values to the local model; generating, using the computer system, for use within the local model, a series expansion of thermodynamic equations relating to the thermophysical property and one or more derivatives involving the thermophysical property; evaluating, using the computer system, based upon a set of specified values for parameters of the fluid, a first order term of the series expansion and a second order term of the series expansion; comparing, using the computer system, values of the first order term and the second order term; automatically updating, using the computer system, a value of the thermophysical property when the values of the first order term and the second order term differ by more than a predefined amount; storing the updated value of the thermophysical property in a processor readable memory; and displaying, on a display device coupled to the computer system, one or more results of the operational industrial process or simulated industrial process, wherein the one or more results are based at least in part on the updated value.