Let us try to reconcile the P-T graphs for the binary mixture with what we know from P-T graphs for single-component systems. At the end of the day, a mixture is formed by individual components which, when pure, act as presented in the P-T diagram shown in Fig. 3.1 [Module 3, repeated below]. We would, therefore, expect that the P-T diagram of each pure component will have some sort of influence on the P-T diagram of any mixture in which it is found.

Figure 3.1 (repeated): Vapor pressure curve

In fact, it would be reasonable to think that as the presence of a given component A dominates over B, the P-T graph of that mixture (A+B) should get closer and closer to that of A as a pure component.

What this is telling us is that a new variable is coming into the picture: composition. So far we have not considered the ratio of component A to component B in the system. Now we are going to study how different ratios (compositions) will give different envelopes, i.e., different P-T behaviors.

Let us say that we have a mixture of components A (Methane, CH₄) and B (Ethane, C₂H₆), where A is the more volatile of the two. It is clear that for the two pure components, we would have two boiling point curves for each component (A and B) as shown in Figure 5.1.

Figure 5.1: P-T Graphs For The Pure Components A And B

(Bloomer, O.T., Gami, D.C., Parent, J.D., “Physical-Chemical Properties of Methane-Ethane Mixtures”. Copyright 1953, Institute of Gas Technology (now “Gas Technology Institute”, in Chicago). Research Bulletin No. 17.)

Please notice that the position of each of curve with respect to the other depends on its volatility. Since we are considering A to be the more volatile, it is expected to have higher vapor pressures at lower temperatures, thus, its curve is located towards the left. For B, the less volatile component, we have a boiling point curve with lower vapor pressures at higher temperatures. Hence, the boiling point curve of B is found towards the right at lower pressures.

Now, if we mix A and B, the new phase envelope can be anywhere within curves A and B. This is shown in Figure 5.2, where the effect of composition on phase behavior of the binary mixture Methane/Ethane is illustrated.

Figure 5.2: Effect Of Composition On Phase Behavior.

(Bloomer, O.T., Gami, D.C., Parent, J.D., “Physical-Chemical Properties of Methane-Ethane Mixtures”. Copyright 1953, Institute of Gas Technology (now “Gas Technology Institute”, in Chicago). Research Bulletin No. 17.)

In Figure 5.2, each phase envelope represents a different composition or a particular composition between A and B (pure conditions). The phase envelopes are bounded by the pure-component vapor pressure curve for component A (Methane) on the left, that for component B (Ethane) on the right, and the critical locus (i.e., the curve connecting the critical points for the individual phase envelopes) on the top. Note that when one of the components is dominant, the curves are characteristic of relatively narrow-boiling systems, whereas the curves for which the components are present in comparable amounts constitute relatively wide-boiling systems.

Notice that the range of temperature of the critical point locus is bounded by the critical temperature of the pure components for binary mixtures. Therefore, no binary mixture has a critical temperature either below the lightest component’s critical temperature or above the heaviest component’s critical temperature. However, this is true only for critical temperatures; but not for critical pressures. A mixture’s critical pressure can be found to be higher than the critical pressures of both pure components — hence, we see a concave shape for the critical locus. In general, the more dissimilar the two substances, the farther the upward reach of the critical locus. When the substances making up the mixture are similar in molecular complexity, the shape of the critical locus flattens down.

In addition to considering variations with pressure, temperature, and volume, as we have done so far, it is also very constructive to consider variations with composition. Most literature on the subject calls these diagrams the “P-x” and “T-x” diagrams respectively. However, a word of caution is needed in order not to confuse the reader. Even though “x” stands for “composition” — in a general sense — here, we will see in the next section that it is also customary to use “x” to single out the composition of the liquid phase. In fact, when we are dealing with a mixture of liquid and vapor, it is customary to refer to the composition of the liquid phase as “x_i” and use “y_i” for the composition of the vapor phase. “x_i” pertains to the amount of component in the liquid phase per mole of liquid phase, and “y_i” pertains to the amount of component in the vapor phase per mole of vapor phase. However, when we talk about composition in general, we are really talking about the overall composition of the mixture, the one that identifies the amount of component per unit mole of mixture. It is more convenient to call this overall composition “z_i”. If we do so, these series of diagram should be called “P-z” and “T-z” diagrams. This is a little awkward in terms of traditional usage; and hence, we call them “P-x” and “T-x” where “x” here refers to overall composition as opposed to liquid composition.

A P-x diagram for a binary system at constant temperature and a T-x diagram for a binary system at a constant pressure are displayed in Figures 5.3 and 5.4, respectively. The lines shown on the figures represent the bubble and dew point curves. Note that the end points represent the pure-component boiling points for substances A and B.

Figure 5.3: P-X Diagram For Binary System

Figure 5.4: T-X Diagram For Binary System
(Courtesy of ©LOMIC, INC)

In a P-x diagram (Figure 5.3), the bubble point and dew point curves bound the two-phase region at its top and its bottom, respectively. The single-phase liquid region is found at high pressures; the single-phase vapor region is found at low pressures. In the T-x diagram (Figure 5.4), this happens in the reverse order; vapor is found at high temperatures and liquid at low temperatures. Consequently, the bubble point and dew point curve are found at the bottom and the top of the two-phase region, respectively.

P-x and T-x diagrams are quite useful, in that information about the compositions and relative amounts of the two phases can be easily extracted. In fact, besides giving a qualitative picture of the phase behavior of fluid mixtures, phase diagrams can also give quantitative information pertaining to the amounts of each phase present, as well as the composition of each phase.

For the case of a binary mixture, this kind of information can be extracted from P-x or T-x diagrams. However, the difficulty of extracting such information increases with the number of components in the system.

At a given temperature or pressure in a T-x or P-x diagram (respectively), a horizontal line may be drawn through the two-phase region that will connect the composition of the liquid (x_A) and vapor (y_A) in equilibrium at such condition — that is, the bubble and dew points at the given temperature or pressure, respectively. If, at the given pressure and temperature, the overall composition of the system (z_A) is found within these values (x_A < z_A < y_A in the T-x diagram or y_A < z_A < x_A in the P-x diagram), the system will be in a two-phase condition and the vapor fraction (α_G) and liquid fraction (α_L) can be determined by the lever rule:

$${\alpha }_G=\frac{z_A-x_A}{y_A-x_A}$$ (5.1a)

$${\alpha }_L=\frac{y_A-z_A}{y_A-x_A}$$ (5.1b)

Note that α_L and α_G are not independent of each other, since α_L + α_G = 1. Figure 5.5 illustrates how equations (5.1) can be realized graphically. This figure also helps us understand why these equations are called “the lever rule.” Sometimes it is also known as the “reverse arm rule,” because for the calculation of α_L (liquid) you use the “arm” within the (y_A-x_A) segment closest to the vapor, and for the vapor calculation (α_G) you use the “arm” closest to the liquid.

Figure 5.5: The Lever Rule In a P-x Diagram

At this point you will see clearly why we needed to make a clear distinction among “x_i” and “y_i” and “z_i”. Expressions (5.1) can be derived from a simple material balance. Can you prove it? [Hint: The number of moles of a component “i” per mole of mixture in the liquid phase is given by the product “xiα_L”, while the number of moles of “i” per mole of mixture in the gas is given by “yiα_G”. Since there are “z_i” moles of component “i” per mole of mixture, the following must hold: $z_i=x_i{\alpha }_z+y_i{\alpha }_G$. Can you proceed from here?]

The next more complex type of multi-component system is a ternary, or three-component, system. Ternary systems are more frequently encountered in practice than binary systems. For example, air is often approximated as being composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, while dry natural gas can be rather crudely approximated as being composed of methane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. We can also have pseudo 3-component systems, which consist of multicomponent systems (more than 3 components) that can be described by lumping all components into 3 groups, or pseudo-components. In this case, each group is treated as a single component. For example, in CO₂ injection into an oil reservoir, CO₂, C₁, and C₂ are often lumped into a single light pseudo-component, while C₃ to C₆ form the intermediate pseudo-component, and the others (C₈₊) are lumped together into a single heavy pseudo-component.

Intuitively, having more than two components poses a problem when a pictorial representation is desired. A rectangular coordinate plot, having only two axes, will no longer suffice. Gibbs first proposed the use of a triangular coordinate system. In modern times, we use an equilateral triangle for such a representation. Figure 5.6 shows an example of a ternary phase diagram. Note that the relationship among the concentrations of the components is more complex than that of binary systems.

Figure 5.6: Three-Component Triangular Representation

Features:

• Any point within this triangle represents the overall composition of a ternary system at a fixed temperature and pressure.
• By convention, the lightest component (L) is located at the apex or top of the triangle. The heavy (H) and medium (M) components are placed at the left hand corner and right hand corner, respectively.
• Every corner represents a pure condition. Hence, at the top we have 100 % L, and at each side, 100 % H and 100 % M, respectively.
• Each side of the triangle represents all possible binary combinations of the three components.
• On any of those sides, the fraction of the third component is zero (0%).
• As you move from one side (0 %) to the 100 % or pure condition, the composition of the given component is increasing gradually and proportionally. At the very center of the triangle, we find 33.33 % of each of the component.

To differentiate within the two-phase region and single-phase region in the ternary diagram, pressure and temperature must be fixed. There will be different envelopes (binodal curves) at different pressures and temperatures. The binodal curve is the boundary between the 2-phase condition and the single-phase condition. Inside the binodal curve or phase envelope, the two-phase condition prevails. If we follow the convention given above (lights at the top, heavies and mediums at the sides), the two-phase region will be found at the top. This can be seen more clearly in Figure 5.7.

Figure 5.7: Ternary Phase Diagram For A Ternary System

(Courtesy of ©LOMIC, INC)

The binodal curve is formed of the bubble point curve and the dew point curve, both of which meet at the plait point. This is the point at which the liquid and vapor composition are identical (resembles the critical point that we studied before). Within the two-phase region, the tie lines are straight lines that connect the compositions of the vapor and liquid phase in equilibrium (bubble point to the dew point). These tie lines angle towards the medium-component corner. It can also be recognized that any mixture on a tie line has the same liquid and vapor compositions.

Finally, to find the proportion of liquid and vapor at any point on the tie line, we apply the lever rule.

For systems containing more than three components, pictorial representation becomes difficult, if not impossible. Simple diagrams can be obtained if the mole fractions of all but two or three components remain constant, and the variation of the two or three varying components with temperature and pressure are shown.

In practical applications, the mole fractions of all components can be expected to vary. For such systems, direct calculations based on physical models are the only way to obtain reliable information about the system phase behavior. This is the ultimate goal of this series of modules, and these calculations will be studied in detail as the course progresses.

Answer the following problems, and submit your answers to the drop box in Canvas that has been created for this module.

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