Thermodynamics and complex fluids
Applied thermodynamics is of fundamental importance in process & product design as well as for a wide range of applications in the petroleum & (bio)chemical -material industries. Complex fluids include, among others, polar & hydrogen bonding compounds, surfactants, colloids, electrolytes & ionic liquids, solids, polymers and pharmaceuticals (as well as other biomolecules).
The target of this strategic area is to investigate the capabilities of existing and develop new thermodynamic tools for all the aforementioned applications as well as design and carry out experimental measurements which can be utilized in model development and validation.
Emphasis will be given on advanced association models (CPA, PC-SAFT) and on activity coefficient models suitable for electrolytes (extended UNIQUAC) and others for polymers.
A longer term vision is to explore the limits of applications of the models and target "demanding" applications e.g. interfacial phenomena, derivative properties, critical area of mixtures and multicomponent adsorption.
In addition to the thermodynamic properties, transport properties such as viscosity and diffusion coefficients will also be addressed.
There is synergy and links to the CERE strategic areas of Flow Assurance (thermodynamic modeling and data of gas hydrates, asphaltenes and scales), EOR (e.g. methods like smartwater, gas injection and high pressure/high temperature applications) and CCS (thermodynamics of CO2 capture, transport and storage - often in presence of chemicals, water, electrolytes and diverse impurities)