Thermodynamics

Send feedback about this page to Dr. John L. Falconer (University of Colorado Boulder) or Dr. Jonathan Verrett (The University of British Columbia). This screencast describes the thermodynamic resources.

Syllabi, schedules, course notes

• MIT OpenCourseWare Complete course notes, assignments, exams, study materials
• University of Colorado Boulder: Syllabus, schedule, and an all-inclusive digital Microsoft OneNote notebook that uses active learning and a flipped classroom. It contains class notes, ConcepTests, pre-class assignments, recommended screencasts and simulations, homework problems (and solutions), and sample exams (with solutions). Contact LearnChemE@gmail.com to obtain access.
• Introduction to computational thermodynamics (MIT): A short course designed to introduce key concepts in computational thermodynamics to chemical engineers.

Textbooks

• Introductory Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, 2nd edition, by J. Richard Elliott, Carl T. Lira 
• Engineering and Chemical Thermodynamics, 2nd edition by Milo D. Koretsky 
• Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, 1st Edition, by Kevin D. Dahm and Donald P. Visco, Jr. 
• Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, 9th Edition by J.M. Smith, Hendrick C. Van Ness, Michael Abbott, and Mark Swihart 
• Chemical, Biochemical, and Engineering Thermodynamics, 5th Edition by Stanley I. Sandler 

Screencasts and self-study modules

• LearnChemeE (University of Colorado Boulder): More than 400 short screencast videos for thermodynamics, including examples problems, introduction to topics, software tutorials, exam review problems, and explanations of how to use diagrams.
• Michigan State University: Screencasts organized by the Elliott and Lira textbook
• Interactive Self-study modules (University of Colorado Boulder): 48 modules that include introductory screencasts (with questions), ConcepTests, interactive simulations, quiz simulations, list of equations and important points, example problem screencasts, and a summary.

    

Interactive Simulations

• Interactive simulations (thermo 1, thermo 2) (University of Colorado Boulder): More than 115 interactive simulations, most of which play directly in browsers.
  

• Quiz simulations (University of Colorado Boulder): 17 simulations that use a step-by-step procedure in which feedback is provided after the user inputs their solution.
• Zero energy cooling chamber (Lehigh University); Python-based simulation for evaporative cooling
• Vapor-liquid equilibrium virtual laboratory (University of Colorado Boulder): simulated laboratory to determine parameters to fit vapor-liquid equilibrium data
• Digital experiments (University of Colorado Boulder): 5 browser-based digital experiment (Adiabatic flash, Adiabatic gas expansion, Vortex tube, Chemical Equilibrium)

Thermodynamics ConcepTests

Multiple-choice conceptual questions for use in class with student response systems (clickers)

• LearnChemE Instructor Resources (University of Colorado Boulder): More than 1,175 thermodynamics ConcepTests. Contact LearnChemE@gmail.com to obtain access.
• AIChE Concept Warehouse (AIChE Education Division) ConcepTests for most chemical engineering core courses and the Thermodynamics Concept Inventory for assessment.
  

Software

• CoolProp C++ library that implements physical properties of put components and mixtures.
• Thermodynamics spreadsheets (Michigan State University): Uses Excel and Peng-Robinson equation of state for single components and mixtures.
• VLE-Calc.com: Phase diagrams and distillation calculations for a large number of compounds.
• Cantera open-source suite of tools for problems involving chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport processes.

• Clapeyron.jl Julia package for the modelling of fluids using thermodynamic equations of state 

• Thermohub numerical solutions to thermodynamics problems using Python

• DWSIM a free, full-featured chemical process simulator with thermodynamic properties

• Polymath^plus Solves ODEs, linear equations, and nonlinear equations. Screencasts demonstrating Polymath use can be found here.

• Chemical Engineering AppSuite HD (University of Alabama): A phone app that contains thermophysical property data, steam tables, a period table, units converters, and equation of state solvers. Available for $0.99 US.

• Steam tables: spreadsheets with built-in interpolation and screencasts that explain how to use steam tables

Useful thermodynamics links

• Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) US Department of Education: Database of educational articles
• NIST Chemistry WebBook: extensive thermochemical and thermophysical property data
• Encyclopedia of chemical engineering equipment (University of Michigan)
• Modules applying thermodynamics to fuel cells

Page last updated and verified August 7, 2026