Skip to main content

Thermodynamics Overview

Jasper's thermodynamic engine calculates physical properties required for process simulation.

Capabilities​

PropertyMethodStatus
Heat capacity (Cp)Polynomial correlationImplemented
EnthalpyIntegration of CpImplemented
Vapor pressureAntoine equationImplemented
VLERaoult's LawImplemented
DensityIdeal gas / liquid correlationsPartial

Property Calculation Flow​

Component Data (MW, Tc, Pc, Cp coefficients, Antoine coefficients)
│
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ Heat Capacity │ → Cp(T) = a + bT + cT² + dT³
└─────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ Enthalpy │ → H(T) = ∫Cp dT + Hf
└─────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ Vapor Pressure │ → log(Psat) = A - B/(T+C)
└─────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────┐
│ VLE │ → Ki = Psat,i / P
└─────────────────┘

Property method availability per engine​

Each engine supports a different set of property methods. The IDAES column applies when optimization is invoked through the Jasper agent.

MethodQuickRigorous (DWSIM)Optimize (IDAES, via agent)Best for
Ideal (Raoult's Law)✓✓✓Ideal mixtures, validation
PR (Peng-Robinson)✓✓✓General-purpose VLE, hydrocarbons
SRK (Soave-Redlich-Kwong)—✓✓Hydrocarbons, gas processing
NRTL✓✓✓Polar / non-ideal liquids
UNIQUAC—✓✓Strongly non-ideal liquids, LLE
UNIFAC—✓—Group contribution estimates
eNRTL——✓Electrolytes, amines
IAPWS-IF97 (steam)—✓—Steam cycles, utilities
Electrolytes (DWSIM)—✓—Aqueous electrolyte systems

For a detailed guide on selecting and configuring property packages, see Property Packages.

Assumptions​

Quick mode (when using the Ideal property method specifically):

  • Ideal gas behavior for vapor phase
  • Ideal liquid solutions (Raoult's Law)
  • No solid phases

Quick mode also supports PR and NRTL with full fugacity / activity coefficient calculations — pick those for non-ideal systems before reaching for a backend.

Planned improvements (Quick mode):

  • Steam tables (IAPWS-IF97)
  • UNIQUAC / UNIFAC
  • Henry's Law for dissolved gases
tip

For electrolytes, amines, and steam cycles, use Rigorous mode (DWSIM provides IAPWS-IF97 steam tables and electrolyte property packages). For equation-oriented optimization with eNRTL, ask the agent — it routes through the IDAES backend.

Units​

All internal calculations use SI units:

PropertyInternal Unit
TemperatureK
PressurePa
Flowmol/s
EnthalpyJ/mol
Heat capacityJ/(mol·K)