Thermodynamics: Fundamentals and Applications for Chemical Engineers

Thermodynamics: Fundamentals and Applications for Chemical Engineers explores the concepts and properties of thermodynamics and illustrates how they can be applied to solve practical problems. The book introduces the fundamentals of thermodynamics for multi-phase, multi-component systems, providing a framework for dealing with problems in chemical engineering including mixing, compressing, and distilling fluids.

The first eight chapters of Thermodynamics focus on single-component thermodynamics, introducing important concepts that will be referenced throughout subsequent chapters. Later chapters introduce modeling for multi-component systems. Topics covered include: properties as a function of state variables; first and second law of thermodynamics; power cycles, combustion, refrigeration cycles, and heat pumps; equilibrium phase relationships; correlations and calculations of vapor-liquid equilibrium data; elementary theories of solutions; and the efficiency of multicomponent separation and reaction processes. The Second Law of Thermodynamics, availability concepts, and process efficiency receive extensive coverage. The clear, well-organized sequence of the chapters helps students successfully learn and retain information.

Each of the fifteen chapters includes updated sample problems that underline key principles and problem-solving steps. The book has numerous appendixes for quick reference on everything from conversion factors to Francis constants, and from properties of pure substances to thermodynamics tables and Diagrams.

Thermodynamics can be used by chemical, petroleum, and mechanical engineering departments in introductory and intermediate courses on engineering thermodynamics and thermodynamics fundamentals.

Born and raised in Chile, Miguel T. Fleischer earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Houston where he is an adjunct professor and the undergraduate program director of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department. Dr. Fleischer worked at Royal Dutch Shell for more than 26 years in research and development, manufacturing, finance, and management. He began teaching when he was an undergraduate student in Chile where he developed a program sponsored by Universidad Católica de Chile to prepare high school students for college. He was the co-owner and CEO of Fleischer International Trading, a private enterprise that imported and distributed wines from all over the world for 13 years. He continued teaching while he was a graduate student at the University of Houston. He has received the Outstanding Lecturer award of the Cullen College of Engineering four times, the University's Teaching Excellence Award, the Cullen College of Engineering's Career Teaching Award, and the Cullen College of Engineering's Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award.