Method for Estimating the Dielectric Constant of Natural Gas Mixtures1

A method has been developed for calculating the static dielectric constant (relative permittivity) of fluid mixtures, with an emphasis on natural gas. The dielectric constant is calculated as a function of temperature, density, and composition; the density is calculated with a fundamental mixture equation of state. Theory-based correlations were developed for the dielectric constant of all significant components of natural gas, including not only light hydro-carbons but also gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide. In many cases, these correlations took advantage of new, highly accurate data measured in cross capacitors. For mixtures, the pure-component values are combined as proposed by Harvey and Prausnitz; this produces better results than the tra-ditional mixing rule. KEY WORDS: dielectric constant; energy; mixtures; natural gas; polariza-tion; relative permittivity