| Abstract: | What does statistical thermodynamics do for the chemical engineer? Statistical thermodynamics introduces molecular properties of a particular system into model equations for the thermodynamic functions of fluid mixtures. It thus contributes to the prediction, extrapolation or estimation of fluid properties, in particular phase and reaction equilibria, which are fundamental to numerous processes in thermochemical engineering. For systems of small, rigid molecules, as frequently encountered in natural gas and refrigeration applications, this method has reached a high level that is beginning to be introduced into industrial practice. For systems of complicated organic molecules, models from molecular thermodynamics have firmly established themselves in industrial applications. |
