CRC Press

CRC Press

English

"The book is written in an unfussy and approachable style. Concepts are clearly explained, equations do not pop out of thin air, and careful distinction is made between the proven principles and formal structure of classical thermodynamics and the tentative and possibly transient theories and models of fluid behavior. These subjects are of course covered in many textbooks on thermodynamics, but the strongest contribution of this new book is found in its later sections, which deal with special topics and contain illuminating and up to date accounts of subjects such as the statistical thermodynamic basis of solution models, and the behavior of ions in electrolyte solutions, where the authors allow their research expertise to come to the fore. Finally, some very useful appendices explain the practical use of several specific models for gaseous and liquid mixtures, including extensive tables of the necessary fluid-specific parameters. Throughout it all, the authors' absolute command and indeed love of their subject shines forth, and their many original contributions to the field are presented in lucid and unassuming fashion. This is a most enjoyable book, warmly recommended." —Claudio Olivera-Fuentes, Simon Bolivar University, Caracas, Venezuela "Classical Thermodynamics of Fluid Systems: Principles and Applications by Juan H. Vera and GrazynaWilczek-Vera is an excellent textbook written for an ample audience of undergraduate, and graduate students in Chemistry and Chemical engineering, as well as for professionals working in these fields. Drawing on their vast professional experience, the authors manage to present fundamental principles and complex subjects with simple, but at the same time rigorous approaches. In their convincing exposition of phase behavior, Vera and Wilczek-Vera consider the chemical nature of the molecules participating in the mixtures so as to clarify the conditions that lead to phase separation and azeotropy. They also present the basic principles of statistical thermodynamics in didactic fashion, to introduce the fundamentals of engineering models to predict thermodynamic properties. In another insightful chapter, the thermodynamics of electrolytes in aqueous solutions serves as a fitting introduction to the complex problem of solubility of proteins in aqueous media. The book’s rigorous treatment of the mathematics of thermodynamics, and its timely, thorough, and sophisticated discussion on the behavior of real systems are also to be commended. Without a doubt, Vera and Wilczek-Vera’s book is indispensable reading to anyone interested in the field of classical thermodynamics of fluid systems." —Esteban Brignole, Universidad del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina ..."the authors have shown that yes, there [is] a need for yet another textbook in applied thermodynamics and I think this book will be remembered by its brief—to the point, concise, rigorous but also, on times, rather personal way of presentation.... The authors recommend the book mostly for researchers and those already familiar with some of the thermodynamic principles."—Continuum Mech. Thermodyn (2017), 29:1415-1416