Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics approach to Transport Processes in Gas Mixtures

Abstract

The thermodynamic approach to non-equilibrium dynamics describes the state of macroscopic systems by means of a collection of intensities or intensive variables. The latter are by definition the differentials of the entropy with respect to the set of extensive constraints. The environment is directly involved in controlling the intensities. The isolation paradigm is negated. The general principles substanciating the approach are restated and expanded to multi-component systems. The procedure is applied to the prediction of transport processes (viscosity and thermal conductivity) of mixtures of atomic gases. Theoretical results are compared with published experimental data.