working substance

American  

noun

1. a substance, usually a fluid, that undergoes changes in pressure, temperature, volume, or form as part of a process for accomplishing work.

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working substance British  

noun

1. the fluid, esp water, steam, or compressed air, that operates an engine, refrigerator, etc

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Etymology

Origin of working substance

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

working substance

Heat transfer Qc occurs out of the working substance during the isothermal path CD, which takes place at constant temperature Tc .

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

Heat transfer Qh occurs into the working substance during the isothermal path AB, which takes place at constant temperature Th .

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

First we take the working substance of the engine as consisting of matter in two states or phases; for example, ice and water, or water and saturated steam.

From Lord Kelvin An account of his scientific life and work by Gray, Andrew

In any heat-engine it is essential that the working substance should be at a high temperature while it is taking in heat, and at a relatively low temperature when it is rejecting heat.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

This fraction is independent of the nature of the working substance, but varies with the temperature, and is121 therefore a function of the temperature.

From Lord Kelvin An account of his scientific life and work by Gray, Andrew