Skip to main content
Elsevier

Dynamic Responses of Supercritical Fluids

Experimental Investigations on Non-Linear Effects Across the Widom Region and Near-Critical Phase Transitions

  • 1st Edition - October 1, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Grazia Lamanna, Christoph Steinhausen, Valerie Mrotzek
  • Language: English

Dynamic Responses of Supercritical Fluids: Experimental Investigations on Non-Linear Effects Across the Widom Region and Near-Critical Phase Transitions provides comprehen… Read more

Description

Dynamic Responses of Supercritical Fluids: Experimental Investigations on Non-Linear Effects Across the Widom Region and Near-Critical Phase Transitions provides comprehensive information on the experimental techniques that can be used to measure the dynamic responses of near-to supercritical fluids, along with an overview of the related physical phenomena involved. This book is ideal for applied physicists, engineers, and graduate and doctoral students in chemical engineering, process engineering, and aerospace engineering.


At the transition from liquid or gaseous fluid states into the supercritical regime, the macroscopic fluid response functions experience maxima, which results in a non-linear coupling between small perturbations in pressure and temperature and compressible flow dynamics. By applying laser-induced thermal acoustics, also known as laser-induced (transient) grating spectroscopy, the fluid response to an acoustic, pressure, and thermal perturbation can be investigated. Specifically, speed of sound, thermal diffusivities, and acoustic damping rates, are measured. And, by applying thermodynamic model, the latter are used to determine volume viscosities at near- to supercritical fluid states. Finally, by applying polarized Mie scattering, insights on the type of phase transitions can be inferred together with quantitative data on the average size, and droplet size distribution can be obtained.

Key features

  • Includes clearly presented experimental and theoretical methods for understanding dynamic processes under supercritical conditions and the outcomes that result
  • Gives the reader physical understanding of the supercritical fluid responses and the related anomalous fluid phenomena such as pseudo-boiling and thermo-convective instabilities
  • Introduces measurement techniques, including laser-induced thermal acoustics (LITA), polarized Mie scattering, and applying structured laser illuminated planar imaging (SLIPI) at high pressure conditions
  • Looks at the experimental values of acoustic attenuation, speed of sound and thermal conductivities at the transition from near- to supercritical fluid conditions
  • Includes Macroscopic investigations in the Widom line region and the fluid transitions across the Widom line

Readership

Applied physicists, engineers, graduate and doctoral students in aerospace engineering, process engineering, energy science and engineering as well as physical chemistry; Professionals working in research and development in environmental and energy-related industries, process engineering, physical chemistry, material science, chemical engineering, and the chemical industry

Table of contents

Metadata Key Terms, Definitions

1. Introduction

2. Review On Thermodynamics Of Supercritical Fluids

3. Experimental Facility For Laser-Induced Thermal Acoustics Investigations

4. Laser-Induced Thermal Acoustics

5. Experimental Facility For Polarised Mie Scattering Investigations

6. Polarised Mie Scattering By Applying Structured Laser Illuminated Planar Imaging At High Pressure Conditions

7. Fluid Dynamic Response Across The Widom Region

8. Examples Of Near-Critical Phase Transitions

9. Conclusion

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: October 1, 2026
  • Language: English

About the authors

GL

Grazia Lamanna

Grazia Lamanna is currently a Senior Lecturer in aerospace thermodynamics and fluid dynamics at the University of Stuttgart in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy. She received her M.Sc. degrees from the University of Napoli “Federico II” in 1994 (Summa cum Laude) and holds a Ph.D. degree in applied physics (2000) from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands. She was a research fellow at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Groningen (NL) in 1995. Her current research focuses on understanding the complex interplay between fluid dynamic and non-equilibrium thermodynamic processes in high-pressure fluids. She studies the fundamentals of these processes (e.g., non-equilibrium phase transitions, mixing, relaxation processes) that are relevant for applications in propulsion (liquid rocket and internal combustion engines) and in energy conversion systems (e.g., supercritical CO2 power plants). Specifically, she develops advanced diagnostic methods to investigate: 1) fluid injection at supercritical and transcritical conditions; 2) non-equilibrium condensation and evaporation processes at high-pressure; 3) the damping of density/temperature fluctuations by relaxation processes in the supercritical region to obtain information on the dynamic response of supercritical fluids. These investigations are important to formulate improved closure relations for the modelling of transport processes in fluid dynamic applications.
Affiliations and expertise
Senior Lecturer and Research Associate, Institute of Aerospace Thermodynamics, University of Stuttgart, Germany

CS

Christoph Steinhausen

Christoph Steinhausen is currently a Junior Researcher in aerospace thermodynamics and fluid dynamics at the University of Stuttgart in the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering and Geodesy. He received his M.Sc. degrees in Mechanical- and Process Engineering from the Technical University of Darmstadt in 2015. Since 2015 he is working on his Ph.D. degree in aerospace engineering at the Institute of Aerospace Thermodynamics of the University of Stuttgart. His Ph.D. thesis has been accepted earlier this year and will be defended later this year. His current research focuses on experimental investigations regarding the understanding of the complex interplay between fluid dynamic and non-equilibrium thermodynamic processes at high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. He applies laser-induced thermal acoustics and other experimental techniques to study the fundamentals of processes, such as non-equilibrium phase transitions, mixing as well as relaxation processes. These processes are relevant for propulsion and energy conversion applications. Specifically, he develops and applies advanced diagnostic methods to investigate: 1) fluid injection at supercritical and transcritical conditions; 2) evaporation processes at high-pressure conditions; 3) the damping of density/temperature fluctuations by relaxation processes in the supercritical region to obtain information on the dynamic response of supercritical fluids. These investigations are important to formulate improved closure relations for the modelling of transport processes in fluid dynamic applications.
Affiliations and expertise
Research Associate, Institute of Aerospace Thermodynamics, University of Stuttgart, Germany

VM

Valerie Mrotzek

Affiliations and expertise
University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany