This group works with accurate measurements, description, and estimation of the thermodynamic properties of materials with emphasis on the fluid state. These properties significantly affect the design of any chemical process and the exploitation of petroleum and natural gas reservoirs. The most recent work has emphasized properties of natural gas mixtures and alternative refrigerant materials. The experimental facilities, which are recognized as among the best in the world, include a variety of PVT and phase equilibria apparatus.

The development of new apparatus is a significant part of the experimental program. The group has invented several measurement techniques. Equations of state provide the avenue for description and estimation of properties. Current work includes both the development of new equations and new computational techniques for obtaining equilibrium properties.

Gas Treatment
Departmental faculty have conceived a new process for conversion of methane (natural gas) into hydrocarbon liquids. This process opens the possibility of recovering remote gas from locations such as the north slope of Alaska as hydrocarbon liquids. The project involves statistical mechanics, catalysis, plasmas, energy transfer, electrochemistry, separations and materials engineering.