List of symbols

Symbol Explanation Unit

RHS Right-hand side of an equation
α correction factor
α thermal diffusivity mm2 s−1
β artificial compressibility factor
 Gamma function
γ free surface energy mN m−1 , J m−2
γ surface tension mN m−1 , J m−2
γc critical surface tension mN m−1 , mJ m−2
δ gas dilution factor
δ delta function
G0 free standard enthalpy of reaction kJ mol−1
G0f free standard enthalpy of formation kJ mol−1
H reaction enthalpy kJ mol−1
H 0 standard reaction enthalpy kJ mol−1
Hf0 standard enthalpy of formation kJ mol−1
Hvap enthalpy of vaporization kJ mol−1
 roughness height m
 depth of the potential well in the Lennard-Jones potential J
ζ Riemann zeta function
η residual function
η viscosity mPa s, cP
contact angle °
Heaviside function
a advancing contact angle °
r receding contact angle °
κ curvature m−1
κ conductivity S, Ω−1 m−1
λ mean free path of a gas molecule before experiencing a collision m
λ wavelength m
λ thermal conductivity W m−1 K−1
μ chemical potential J

xxxv
xxxvi List of symbols

Symbol Explanation Unit

ν frequency s−1
ν kinematic viscosity m2 s−1
ρm density per length g cm−4 , kg m−4
ρ mass concentration g L−1
ρ specific resistance Ωm
ρ density kg m−3
ρel charge density A s m−3 , C m−3
σ diffusion or transport mobility kg s−1
σ atom distance for which the Lennard-Jones potential is 0 m
σ normal stress Pa, N mm−2
τ shear stress Pa, N mm−2
 gravitational potential m2 s−2
 dissipation coefficient s−2
ω relaxation parameter
ω angular frequency, angular velocity s−1
a, a acceleration vector, in Cartesian coordinates composed of the x-component ax , m s−2
y-component ay and z-component az
A area m2
b molality mol kg−1
B Bernoulli number
Bo Bond number, relates buoyancy forces to surface tension
c molar concentration mol L−1 , M
C compactness factor
C capacitance F
ceq equivalent concentration mol L−1
cp isobaric heat capacity J kg−1 K−1
cs speed of sound m s−1
cv isochoric heat capacity J kg−1 K−1
Ca Capillary number, relates viscous forces to surface tension
c constant
d thickness m
d diameter m
D spring constant N m−1
D diffusion coefficient m2 s−1
dH hydraulic diameter m
e specific energy J kg−1
E energy J
E, E electric field V m−1
E0 Standard reduction potentials V
eV volume-specific energy J m−3
 List of symbols xxxvii

Symbol Explanation Unit

Ed bond energy J
Ec Eckert number, relates kinetic energy to enthalpy
Eo Eötvös number, relates buoyancy forces to surface tension
erf error function
erfc complementary error function
f Darcy friction factor
F function value f (x) at discreet value of x any physical unit
F, F force N
feq equivalence factor
Fr Froude number, relates inertia forces to gravity forces
G Gibbs (free) energy J
h specific enthalpy J kg−1
h, H height m
h stepwidth any physical unit
ḣ specific enthalpy flow J kg−1 s−1
Ḣ enthalpy flow J s−1
H enthalpy J
hc capillary height m
I electrical current A
I, I Identity matrix
Iν , I modified Bessel function of order ν of the first kind
J, J Jacobian matrix, commonly used for coordinate system transformation
J mass flux kg m−2 s−1
Jν , J Bessel function of order ν of the first kind
k, k volume force N m−3
k wave number k = 2λπ
k proportionality factor; constant
k damping constant N s m−1
Kν , K modified Bessel function of order ν of the second kind
Kp0 equilibrium constant at standard conditions referred to the partial pressures,
which are proportional to the molar concentrations
Kc equilibrium constant, referred to the molar concentrations
Kc0 equilibrium constant at standard conditions, referred to the molar concentra-
tions
Kp equilibrium constant referred to the partial pressures, which are proportional to
the molar concentrations
Kn Knudsen number, relates the mean free path to a characteristic length of a
problem, allows determining if the continuum hypothesis is valid
l, L length m
lc circumference m
Lc capillary length m
xxxviii List of symbols

Symbol Explanation Unit

Ls slip length m
Lchar characteristic length scale of a problem m
Le Lewis number, relates mass transport to energy transport
m mass kg
ṁ mass flow kg s−1
M Mach number, relates the flow velocity to the speed of sound, allows determin-
ing if a gas can be considered as being incompressible
M torque Nm
M molecular weight or molar mass g mol−1
Ma Marangoni number, relates Marangoni forces (due to temperature gradients) to
viscous forces
n amount of substance mol
n speed of rotation min−1
N number of molecules
neq equivalent amount of substance mol
nD number density, i.e., the number of molecules per volume m−3
O error function
Oh Ohnesorge number, relates viscous forces to the produce of inertia and surface
tension forces
p momentum kg m s−1
P electrical power W
p0 standard pressure Pa
Pe mass transport related Péclet number, relates convective to diffusive transport
pH pH value
pI isoelectric point
s, s, x position vector, path, in Cartesian coordinates composed of the x-component m
sx , y-component sy and z-component sz
Pr Prandtl number, relates momentum transport to heat transport

p, p pressure Pa, bar
q̇A area-specific heat flow J m−2 s−1
q̇ specific heat flow J kg−1 s−1
q specific heat J kg−1
Q̇ heat flow J s−1
Q electrical charge C
Q heat J
Q flow rate m3 s−1
qV volume-specific heat J m−3

r, R, R radius m
r aspect ratio
R residual
R ohmic resistance Ω
 List of symbols xxxix

Symbol Explanation Unit

Rhyd hydraulic resistance kg m−4 s−1
Rn,hyd normalized hydraulic resistance kg m−5 s−1
RA,geom geometric hydraulic resistance kg m−5 s−1 mPa−1 s−1 ,
m−3 mm−1
RA,hyd cross-section hydraulic resistance mPa s m−1
RS specific gas constant J kg−1 mol−1
rm atom distance for which the Lennard-Jones potential is minimal m
Re Reynolds number, relates the inertial forces to the viscous forces, allows deter-
mining if a flow can be considered to be laminar
s specific entropy J K−1 kg−1
s arclength m
s vector to the point S in space
S spreading parameter J m−2
S entropy J K−1
Ṡ entropy flow J K−1 s−1
S0 standard entropy J mol−1
Sc Schmidt number, relates momentum transport to mass transport
sign signum function
w specific work J kg−1
ṡ specific entropy flow J kg−1 s−1
t, 
t time s
T period length s
T trial function
Tν , T Chebyshev polynomial of order ν of the first kind
Tb boiling temperature K, ◦C
T temperature K
u specific internal energy J kg−1
U internal energy J
U voltage V
Uν , U Chebyshev polynomial of order ν of the second kind
uV volume-specific internal energy J m−3
v, 
v, v,  v velocity vector, in Cartesian coordinates composed of the x-component vx , m s−1
y-component vy and z-component vz
v specific volume m3 kg−1
V̇ volume flow kg m−3
V volume m3
VLJ Lennard-Jones potential J
w mass fraction kg kg−1
ẇ specific work flow J kg−1 s−1
w, W width m
Ẇ work flow J s−1
xl List of symbols

Symbol Explanation Unit

W work J
We Weber number, relates inertia forces to surface tension
x molar fraction mol mol−1
df
X value of the derivative dx (x) of the function f (x) at discreet value of x any physical unit
Yν , Y Bessel function of order ν of the second kind; Weber function of order ν
z number of charges transferred in an electrochemical reaction