UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA FACULTAD DE INGENIERIA DEPARTAMENTO DE INGENIERIA QUIMICA Y AMBIENTAL INGENIERIA DE LAS REACCIONES QUIMICAS HECTOR DARIO

DIAZ ORTIZ CODIGO 245001 2013-2

Comparison between two programs to resolve the Van der Waals equation and their applications (features)
The Van der Waals (VdW) equation is one of many types of cubic equation state who help us to model the behavior of different substances, giving us different properties (specific volume or compressibility factor) in saturated conditions (for both states) or overheated steam. The VdW equation says this:

a P + 2 * ( V b ) R*T = 0 V ( )

Where P, V and T are the pressure, volume and temperature conditions of the system respectively, R is the ideal gas constant and a & b are constants who depends of the substance and his nature.

In this case the study about the VdW equation isnt the focus, instead, will be an element to compare two different tools (Polymath and Microsoft Excel) to resolve math problems (differential equations, nonlinear equations systems, statistical problems, etc.). For use this equation, we establish the values of P, T and define water as the test substance for obtain the VdW constants calculated and tabulated from different studies. The values previously named are P = 10 bar; T = 500 K a=5.536 and b = 0.03049. In my case, when i run the programs in these different programs, i found some differences. in first place, the user interface is more friendly in Polymath, likewise, the codification and syntax in this programs are totally different, in Polymath is more easily find the error in the compilation, thanks to the tool found in the upper site of the worksheet which show us the different missing values and compilation errors while Excel doesnt have this useful tool. Another difference is the facility of run Polymath where we define since the first step what is our variable of interest and is easier see this fact meanwhile in Excel the cells codification obstruct this purpose. When we run Polymath and adjust the range of the estimation, we found one or two answers depending of the range that we establish, this is another big difference between Polymath and Excel, while, if we run the Excel solver without or a range (if we know the range we can found those different answers) and give us only one answer. One common aspect about those different programs is that we can adjust the tolerance of the solver but in Polymath we have a plus, we can adjust the accuracy of the numeric method. The solution methods for find the answer to problems in different programs are one vital thing, this influence the ac curacy and the time to obtain the answer (or answers). Polymath counts with different methods to solve equations, differential equations, and nonlinear systems, meanwhile if we need solve these problems in Excel we need write in its programmer the solution method and use the solver tool. Sometimes we need a visual help to understand the behavior of the solution (graphics or tables), only when we made all the compilation in the Excel programmer, we can make obtain tables and make graphics, while when we use Polymath we have the option to obtain this things checking the squares who actives this options. If we dont program the method in Excel for this problem and only use the solver, we going to obtain only one answer without a visual confirmation, and we need tabulate the values to obtain the graph (without the help of solver), one weakness of this method is that Excel traces a trends lines, decreasing the accuracy of the graph. To improve the method is necessary make greater number of partitions in the range. If we use this method for this example we can find one more answer between 0.047 and 0.048, this answer wasnt be provided by Polymath or Excels solver, this says us that those programs arent perfect and can have some problems with the solution methods. To make yourself a comparison of the visual help and see the programs, please go to the folder. To facilitate the Excel compilation I export the Polymath document to Excel format, this is visible in the Excel document too.