Topics
Sequence of topics and subtopics across the course
The plan below outlines the topics covered each week and the module they belong to. It is tentative and may be adjusted as the course progresses. The weekly hours are distributed so that each module keeps its intended weight, for a total of 48 contact hours.
| Week | Module | Topics and subtopics | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Course introduction. Introduction to thermodynamics: definition, scope, systems, and boundaries. Macroscopic and microscopic approaches. Systems of units and dimensional analysis. | 3 |
| 2 | 1 | Properties and their classification. State, equilibrium, and processes. Density and specific volume. Pressure and its measurement. Temperature and the Zeroth Law. | 3 |
| 3 | 2 | Pure substances. The state postulate. Phases and phase changes. T-v, P-v, and P-T diagrams. Triple point and critical point. | 3 |
| 4 | 2 | Property tables. Compressed liquid, saturated liquid, saturated mixture, saturated vapor, and superheated vapor. Vapor quality. Enthalpy. | 3 |
| 5 | 3 | Difference between gas and vapor. Ideal-gas equation of state. Compressibility factor Z. Other equations of state (van der Waals, Beattie-Bridgeman). | 3 |
| 6 | 4 | Forms of energy. Heat and work as energy transfer mechanisms. The general energy balance. | 3 |
| 7 | 5 | First Law for closed systems. Boundary work. Rigid tank and piston-cylinder processes. | 3 |
| 8 | 5 | Polytropic processes. Internal energy, enthalpy, and specific heats. Recommended point to review and assess what has been learned so far. | 3 |
| 9 | 6 | Conservation of mass and energy in control volumes (steady state). Nozzles, diffusers, and throttling valves. | 3 |
| 10 | 6 | Turbines, compressors, and pumps. Mixing chambers and heat exchangers. Overview of power and refrigeration cycles. | 3 |
| 11 | 6 | Transient processes: charging and discharging of tanks. Moving-boundary cases. Recommended point to review and assess what has been learned so far. | 3 |
| 12 | 7 | Second Law: Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements. Heat engines, refrigerators, and heat pumps. Thermal efficiency and COP. | 3 |
| 13 | 7 | Carnot cycle. Reversible and irreversible processes. Thermodynamic temperature scale. Corollaries. | 3 |
| 14 | 8 | Entropy: definition. Clausius inequality. The increase of entropy principle. T-ds relations. | 3 |
| 15 | 8 | Entropy change of ideal gases, liquids, and solids. Isentropic processes and isentropic efficiencies of turbines, compressors, pumps, and nozzles. | 3 |
| 16 | 8 | Entropy balance: entropy transfer and generation in closed systems and control volumes. General review. Recommended point for a comprehensive assessment. | 3 |