Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Chapter 10. Theory of Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium

When a fluid is brought into the vapor-liquid region, it forms two coexisting phases, each with its own molar properties (volume, enthalpy, entropy, etc.). If the fluid is a mixture of components, then each phase also has its own composition. This fundamental property of mixtures is the basis of separation processes. A major goal of chemical engineering thermodynamics is to provide computational methodologies for the calculation of phase diagrams in systems with many components. This requires the determination of the precise conditions that lead to phase separation, the number of phases that form, and their composition. The thermodynamic property that holds the answers to these problems is the Gibbs ...