Prerequisites
ME 220Description
Elementary classical thermodynamics, applications of the first law and the second laws of thermodynamics to power and refrigeration cycles, mixtures and solutions, thermodynamic relations, chemical reactions, and phase and chemical equilibrium.
Who Takes It
Thermodynamics concerns the foundation of all branches of physical sciences. Therefore, this course is highly recommended to all mechanical engineering students. Also, students in chemical and biomedical engineering will benefit by taking this course or one similar to it. Undergraduates usually take this course at the beginning of their third or fourth year.
What It's About
Power generation/consumption is an indispensable element of almost all engineering systems. Ecological considerations such as global warming and air pollution impose ever more stringent environmental constraints on power generation and propulsion systems. This course concerns the applications of the laws of classical thermodynamics to the analysis of performance and efficiency of engineering systems such as Rankine, Otto, Diesel, Brayton, Ericcson, and Stirling cycles. The fundamental thermodynamic relations are examined and applied to describe ideal and non-ideal mixtures. The applications of the laws of thermodynamics to chemically reactive systems, the concept of adiabatic flame temperature, as well as chemical and phase equilibrium are discussed.
Lectures
The course meets four days per week for 50-minute lectures. Topics include:
- Availability analysis
- Vapor and gas cycles
- Thermodynamic relations
- Reactive mixtures and chemical and phase equilibrium
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) refers to technology of indoor and automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat...
