About The Conference

Boulder's famous backdrop, the 'Flatirons' rock formations

This conference jointly represents the Symposium of the well-established series of conferences on thermophysical properties and the eighteenth in a series of conferences organized by the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (IAPWS). The Symposium is concerned with theoretical, experimental, simulation, and applied aspects of the thermophysical properties of gases, liquids, and solids, including biological systems. ICPWS is focused on the properties, science, and applications of water, steam and aqueous systems, primarily as needed for the electric power generation community and within climate science. Appropriate topics are:

• Thermodynamic Properties, including equation of state, phase equilibria, p-V-T behavior, heat capacity, enthalpy, thermal expansion, sound speed, and critical phenomena.
• Transport Properties, including thermal and electrical conductivity, viscosity, mass diffusion, thermal diffusion, non-Newtonian behavior, and thermal, thermoacoustic, and other diffusion waves.
• Optical and Thermal Radiative Properties, including dielectric constant, refractive index, emissivity, reflectivity, and absorptivity.
• Interfacial Properties, including solid-solid interfaces, surface tension, interfacial profiles, interfacial transport, and wetting.
• Data Correlation, including data evaluation and prediction, standard reference data, databases, and storage and retrieval of thermophysical-property data.
• Power Cycle Chemistry, including related aqueous physical chemistry for power generation involving water and/or steam in fossil, nuclear, or renewable contexts.

Technical Areas at the Symposium and the Eighteenth ICPWS:

Click on a Session Title below to open a description of the session:

The CU campus, with the snow-capped Rockies.
(Photo by Glenn Asakawa/University of Colorado)

• Carbon Capture, Transportation, & Storage
  

  Martin Trusler, Imperial College
  Roland Span, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
  Property models and measurement studies associated with all aspects of the carbon capture, transportation, use, and sequestration cycle are welcomed. These include separations at pre-combustion or post-combustion stages of fossil energy use; purity issues for transportation, conversion, and storage; thermodynamics of relevant mixtures; materials compatibility issues; properties and instrumentation associated with ensuring integrity and safety at all stages of an industrial scale process; etc.

• Correlations, Databases, and Engineering Equations of State
  

  Michael Brown, University of Washington
  Monika Thol, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
  Eric Lemmon, NIST
  This session deals with equations of state, correlations, or empirical models that can be used to calculate thermophysical properties of fluids or mixtures. Examples are Helmholtz energy based equations, cubic equations of state, corresponding-states models, transport models, vaporpressure correlations, spline interpolations, estimation models or calculation methods for vapor-liquid equilibrium or solubilities, and surface-tension correlations. Other topics might include fitting techniques, or group-contribution methods.

• Fluid Property Measurements
  

  Diego Cristancho, Dow Chemical
  Tara Lovestead, NIST
  The sessions on Fluid Property Measurements are a forum for reports of experimental studies of thermophysical properties in broad ranges of pressure, temperature, and composition, including high accuracy measurements on well-characterized mixtures and complex real-world sample characterization, and safe handling of toxic and corrosive compounds. Emphasis should be placed on the industrial relevance (e.g., environmental, pharmaceutical, forensic, medical and energy industries), of the results and/or their scientific significance to better understand molecular interactions, to advance property models and databases, or to benchmark force fields and simulation results. The topic, scope, and style of the presentations should fit the broad audience of these sessions.

• Instrumentation and Measurement Techniques
  

  Aaron Rowane, NIST
  Markus Richter, Technische Universität Chemnitz
  This session will focus only on contributions reporting novel experimental techniques or instrumentations, either not yet published, or published within the past 12 months. The focus is on the development of new techniques. Contributions made with established apparatus should be submitted to other sessions.

• Ionic Liquids
  

  Joan Brennecke, University of Texas
  José Nuno Canongia Lopes, Instituto Superior Técnico Lisbon
  Sessions in this area relate to the thermophysical properties of ionic liquids and their mixtures and solutions. Topics of interest include gas solubility, molecular interactions, thermal conductivity, viscosity, diffusion, densities, excess volumes and enthalpies, isothermal compressibilities, surface tension, enthalpy of fusion, phase behavior, calorimetry, modeling and simulation of ionic liquids, and ionic liquids as functional materials.

• Modeling and Calculations for the Power Industry
  

  Francesca di Mare, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
  Nobuo Okita, Toshiba
  This session focuses on modeling and calculations related to the power industry. Example areas of interest include the development and implementation of fast and consistent thermophysical property calculations for use in heat-cycle optimization and in computational fluid dynamics and the development of models for chemistry in flue gases.

• Molecular Simulation
  

  Kenji Yasuoka, Keio University
  Michael Shirts, University of Colorado Boulder
  This session focuses on the use of molecular simulations to estimate and understand thermodynamic and thermophysical properties. Applications of molecular simulations to predict properties of fluid and/or solid systems and to elucidate physical phenomena are of particular interest. Other strongly encouraged topics are new modeling and simulation methods, including coarse-grained/multiscale approaches and analyses of error propagation and uncertainty quantification between molecular models and physical properties.

• Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics
  

  Fernando Bresme, Imperial College
  David Reguera, University of Barcelona
  The sessions on non-equilibrium thermodynamics will focus on recent advances highlighting the applicability of theoretical methods to investigate transport phenomena (heat, mass, charge transport in bulk and under confinement conditions) and dissipation processes, non-equilibrium modeling/simulation techniques and experimental studies under non-equilibrium conditions.

• Nuclear Reactor and Fuel Cycle Chemistry
  

  Jacy Conrad, Idaho National Laboratory
  Hugues Arcis, National Nuclear Laboratory
  This session is seeking contributions describing the fundamental chemistry of aqueous solutions and/or steam relevant to operating nuclear reactors and the nuclear fuel cycle. Topics of interest include fundamentals of reactor and radiation chemistry for example; water radiolysis, reactor thermodynamics, aqueous separations chemistry, radiochemistry, aqueous nuclear waste characterization and processing, and other topics related to the interactions of water and nuclear materials.

• Ocean and Atmospheric Applications
  

  Stephanie Bell, NPL UK
  Alberto Giuliano Albo, INRiM, Italy
  These sessions will focus on properties of aqueous systems relevant to oceanic and atmospheric science. This includes thermophysical properties of seawater for physical oceanography (density, salinity, enthalpy, etc.) and also the aqueous chemistry of seawater (pH, reaction equilibria, etc.). Atmospheric topics include measurement and modeling of moisture content and precipitation, and also humidity metrology.

• Optical and Thermal Radiative Properties
  

  Zhuomin Zhang, Georgia Tech
  Liping Wang, Arizona State University
  Optical and thermal radiative properties of advanced materials are critically needed for energy conversion systems, thermal management, microelectronics, materials process and manufacturing, and noncontact temperature measurement. This focused topic will provide a forum for participants to present the most recent research results on all aspects of measurement, theory, simulation, and modeling of emittance, absorptance, reflectance, transmittance, and scattering properties of surfaces, thin films, particles, periodic and aperiodic structures and composites. Reports on the state-of-the-art theories and methods in modeling, designing, fabricating, and testing micro/nanostructures to tailor the optical and radiative properties in both the far field and the near field will be welcomed.

• Photothermal and Photoacoustic Thermophysics
  

  Andreas Mandelis, University of Toronto
  Juan José Alvarado-Gil, Cinvestav-Unidad Mérida
  The sessions dedicated to these topics involve advanced optical-to-thermal and optical-to-acoustic/ultrasonic analytical experimental and theoretical methodologies developed and utilized for thermophysical property measurements in all states of matter. Reports in PT and PA methodologies and their applications are solicited.

• Physical Chemistry of Aqueous Systems
  

  Ken Yoshida, University of Tokushima
  Andre Anderko, OLI Systems Inc.
  We seek papers about the measurement, theory, and correlation of chemistry-related properties of aqueous systems, including solutions of electrolytes and nonelectrolytes in water. Examples would include descriptions of ionization, activity, and molecular structure. We encourage papers that relate the properties of aqueous solutions to applications such as chemical process design, geochemistry, oceanography, water treatment, hydrometallurgy, materials science, electrochemical energy sources, hydrogen economy, life sciences, and protection of the environment.

• Power Cycle Chemistry
  

  David Addison, Thermal Chemistry Ltd.
  Andy Witney, GE Power & Water
  Barry Dooley, Structural Integrity Assoc.
  Contributions are sought on all aspects of cycle chemistry and technology for steam power cycles in fossil and combined cycle plants and other industrial applications. Areas include passivation such as with film forming substances, corrosion monitoring and steam sampling, purity requirements for steam cycles, and the chemistry of additives. Talks on instrumentation and techniques associated with system startup, operation, and shutdown are welcome.

• Properties for Fuels and Energy Systems
  

  Sergio Quiñones-Cisneros, Ruhr-Universität Bochum
  Kurt Schmidt, Schlumberger Technology Corporation
  These sessions deal with thermophysical properties of fuels including natural gas, petroleum-based fuels, coal-based fuels, oil sands, shale gas, and gas hydrates. Also of interest are properties of systems related to carbon capture and sequestration as well as gas injection. Past sessions have included viscosity, density, calorimetry, phase behavior, fuel and oil characterization, thermal conductivity, and thermal degradation. Experimental, modeling, and simulation studies are all encouraged.

• Properties for Materials Science at High Temperatures
  

  Doug Matson, Tufts University
  Konstantinos Boboridis, European Commission JRC, Germany
  These sessions will concentrate on experimental and theoretical aspects for the measurement of thermophysical properties of materials at high temperature. Measurement timescales span the continuum from highly non-equilibrium subsecond thermophysics to quasi-static and equilibrium techniques used for identification of properties for metallurgical process design.

• Properties of Metastable and Glassy Systems
  

  Frédéric Caupin, Lyon University
  Jan Hrubý, Czech Academy of Sciences
  This session focuses on metastability and nucleation in water and aqueous systems. Topics of interest include: supercooled, superheated and stretched liquid; subcooled vapor; supersaturated solutions; metastable polymorphic crystals. We also seek works on nucleation of droplets, bubbles, crystals and clathrate hydrates; amorphous ices and aging; and other properties and processes related to phase transitions in aqueous systems.

• Properties of Polymers
  

  Robert Ivancic, NIST
  McKenzie Coughlin, NIST
  These sessions focus on experimental measurements, theories, and simulations of the properties of polymeric materials. While any concept about polymer properties is welcomed, specific interests include the interfacial behavior of polymers, new developments in multi-modal measurement techniques, and systems such as block copolymers, nanocomposites, fibers, and thin films. Topics that have relevance to sustainability and human health are highly sought after.

• Properties of Solids
  

  Ursula Kattner, NIST
  Erhard Kaschnitz, Österreichisches Gießerei-Institut
  Sessions in this area are devoted to the thermophysical properties of solids. Topics of interest include but are not limited to thermal properties of solids, thermodynamic studies of phase transitions, and thermal deformation. We seek papers using experimental, theoretical and/or computational methods in fundamental research and/or applications in areas such as energy, environment, industrial processes and life sciences.

• Properties of Working Fluids including Refrigerants
  

  Mark McLinden, NIST
  Stephanie Outcalt, NIST
  Papers reporting experimental measurements or models for the properties of fluids intended as working fluids in thermodynamic cycles are solicited. This would include thermodynamic and transport properties, equations of state and other models, pure fluids and mixtures. Working fluids for refrigeration and power cycles are of interest. Data and models for the "new" low-GWP refrigerants and working fluids for organic Rankine cycles are particularly welcome; this would include fluids with boiling points higher than typical refrigerants. Papers comparing one cycle versus another or one fluid versus another in a particular cycle are generally not of interest, unless the focus is clearly on the property characteristics.

• Theory of Thermophysical Properties
  

  Clare McCabe, Vanderbilt University
  Amparo Galindo, Imperial College
  This session focuses on the use of molecular theory to predict thermophysical properties, including molecular based equations of state, classical density functional theory, first principles and machine-learned based approaches.

• Thermal Properties of Nanostructured Materials
  

  Xinwei Wang, Iowa State University
  Yangsu Xie, Shenzhen University
  This session will cover a wide spectrum of research on thermophysical properties of nanostructured materials. Properties of interest include (not limited to) thermal conductivity, diffusivity, specific heat, interface thermal resistance, and energy carrier dynamics. Both nanoscale and nanostructured materials are covered, with examples spanning quantum dots, nanowires/tubes, thin films, 2D materials, their composites, and nanofluids. New technology developments are also welcome in our session to push the boundaries of measurement physical scale, time resolution, and accuracy. Both experimental and theoretical investigation, and computer modeling to look into the physics underpinning thermal transport in nanostructured materials are welcome.

• Thermophysical Properties of Aqueous Systems
  

  Karsten Meier, Helmut Schmidt University
  Simona Lago, Instituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica
  We seek papers about the measurement, theory, and correlation of thermodynamic and transport properties of water and of aqueous solutions. In addition to fundamental studies of thermodynamic and transport properties, we encourage papers that relate these properties of aqueous solutions to applications such as chemical process design and environmental science.

• Wetting, Interfaces, Membranes, and Hydrates
  

  Carolyn Koh, Colorado School of Mines
  Marcus Müller, University of Göttingen
  Submissions that relate to the following topics are encouraged for these sessions: structure and thermodynamics of interfaces, theory and computer simulation, wetting and fluctuation effects, interplay between wetting and phase behavior in confined geometry, kinetics of phase transitions, dynamics at interfaces, structure formation in synthetic and biological, amphiphilic systems, energy materials, and gas hydrates & clathrates.

• Posters
  

  Jason Widegren, NIST
  Joe Magee, NIST
  Posters may cover any topic area of the Symposium.

• Software Demonstrations
  

  Ian Bell, NIST
  Kirk Buecher, Mettler Toledo
  Software Demonstartions may cover any topic area of the Symposium.

Please send your comments and suggestions to the Symposium organizers through email address: or the ICPWS organizers through email address: icpws@iapws.org

All technical sessions will be held at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A. The Symposium is organized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Joint ASME-AIChE Committee on Thermophysical Properties. The ICPWS is organized by the U.S. National Committee to the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam.