Phase Equilibrium Engineering: Chapter 3. Phase Equilibrium Diagrams

Phase equilibrium knowledge is required for the design of all sorts of chemical processes that may involve separations, reactions, fluids flow, particle micronization, etc. Indeed, different phase behavior scenarios are required for a rational conceptual process design. The aim of this chapter is to present the possible fluid mixture phase behavior that can be found in binary, ternary, and multicomponent systems. Moreover, representation of phase behavior in terms of phase diagrams is discussed. Dealing with phase diagrams of complex mixtures is not an easy task for beginners; however, very simple concepts are behind the rules for their construction. Phase diagrams are essential tools for phase equilibrium engineering as they provide valuable hints to understand the process and to assess the feasible and optimum operating regions. In this chapter, the “phenomenological” meaning of each phase behavior and its relation with molecular properties is discussed. A special attention is given to binary system phase behavior. Even though, in practice we rarely found such simple mixtures, they furnish a great deal of information for the understanding of multicomponent systems.