Irreversible processes in a binary two-phase counter flow

A thermodynamic method is proposed for the description of irreversible, binary, two-phase, counter-current flow processes. Irreversibilities in these processes are related to temperature and mole-fraction deviations from equilibrium which result from internal-exchange delays. The method is applied to a heat-rejecting, two-phase, counter flow of an NH3/H2O binary mixture with liquid matter in excess. A parametric study with different values of the three delay ratios involved has been performed and yields, among others, entropy production, temperature deviations, and heat exchange with the ambient.