Propylene Glycol Thermal Expansion Coefficient Calculator by Concentration and Temperature

Propylene Glycol Thermal Expansion Coefficient Chart

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Data from "Propylene Glycol Industrial Grade", Carpemar 2016

Toggle data sets by clicking the legend.

Propylene Glycol Thermal Expansion Calculator

Enter two temperatures to get % volume and density change.

Initial Temperature (T1)
Value:
Unit:
Final Temperature (T2)
Value:
Unit:
Results
β at T1 (×10⁻⁵ 1/K):  
β at T2 (×10⁻⁵ 1/K):  
% Volume Change:  
% Density Change:  
Volume Change Calculator

Enter volume and two temperatures to get new volume.

Known Volume at T1
Volume:
Unit:
T1 Value:
T1 Unit:
Target Temperature (T2)
T2 Value:
T2 Unit:
Volume at T2
US Gallons:  
Liters:  
ft³:  
m³:  
in³:  
Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Propylene Glycol
What Is the Volumetric Thermal Expansion Coefficient?

The volumetric thermal expansion coefficient (β) describes how much a fluid expands per degree of temperature rise. It is reported here in units of β × 10−5 1/K. The volume change is:

ΔV = V0 × β × ΔT

where V0 is the initial volume and ΔT is the temperature change in Kelvin.

Why It Matters for Closed-Loop Systems

In closed-loop heating and cooling systems, fluid volume changes with temperature must be accommodated by an expansion tank. Undersizing the expansion tank — by using water's expansion coefficient when the system actually contains a propylene glycol solution — can result in system overpressure, relief valve discharge, or pipe damage. Propylene glycol solutions expand more than water at equivalent temperatures, making accurate β values essential for expansion tank sizing calculations.

Note: β increases with both temperature and glycol concentration. Always size expansion tanks using the highest expected operating temperature.

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