Lab of Thermophysical Properties of Fluids 1

Room: Q160_131

The Thermodynamic Properties of Fluids Laboratory is used to measure various thermodynamic properties of fluids, including environmentally friendly refrigerants, using dedicated experimental apparatus. In particular, the thermodynamic properties of pure fluids and their mixtures are measured both in the two-phase region and in the superheated vapor region.
In addition, the laboratory focuses on the characterization of solid–liquid equilibrium (SLE), through the measurement of the triple point of pure fluids and the determination of solid–liquid equilibrium curves and eutectic points of mixtures. The experimental data obtained are used to develop accurate mathematical models for determining the thermodynamic properties of fluids, such as equations of state.

Main Facilities

In the laboratory, experimental measurements are carried out using three types of experimental apparatus:

• An isochoric experimental apparatus, which allows the measurement of pressure, volume, and temperature (PvT) properties of pure fluids and pressure, volume, temperature, and composition (PvTx) properties of their mixtures along isochoric paths, over a temperature range from −50 °C to 110 °C, both in the two-phase region and in the superheated vapor region.

• A Burnett-type experimental apparatus, used for the rapid and accurate measurement of PvT properties of pure fluids and PvTx properties of mixtures along isothermal paths, up to 120 °C, in the superheated vapor region.

• An experimental apparatus for the characterization of solid–liquid equilibrium (SLE, Solid–Liquid Equilibrium) of refrigerants and their mixtures, which enables the determination of refrigerant triple-point properties, solid–liquid equilibrium curves, and mixture eutectic points, operating at extremely low temperatures (down to −150 °C).

Research manager:

Prof. Giovanni Di Nicola

Staff:

Dr. Sebastiano Tomassetti