Applied Thermodynamics

Explore how energy classifies into macro energy and internal energy and manifests as kinetic, potential, thermal, electrical, chemical, gravitational, elastic spring energy, and nuclear forms, with transfers within thermodynamic systems.

Explore work and heat as energy transfers in thermodynamics, examining how force and distance produce work, and how potential, kinetic, and chemical energies convert to electrical energy and other forms.

Analyze thermodynamic systems and energy transformations by tracking internal, kinetic, and potential energies, heat transfer, and work across state changes and system boundaries.

Apply the first law of thermodynamics to closed systems, detailing energy changes from heat and work and the role of internal, kinetic energy, and potential energy as a state function.

Work through first law applications for a closed system, linking heat transfer and work to changes in internal, kinetic, and potential energy, and solving for the change in internal energy.

Define enthalpy, entropy, and specific heat; derive enthalpy from internal energy and PV via the first law; compare constant-volume and constant-pressure specific heats with ice, water, and vapor.

Explore thermodynamic processes, including isobaric (constant pressure), isochoric (constant volume), isothermal (constant temperature), adiabatic (no heat transfer), and polytropic (PV^n = constant) with practical piston and balloon examples.

Derive the relation Cp for an ideal gas as Cv plus R, and gamma as Cp/Cv, explain adiabatic processes with PV=nRT, and use Cp, Cv, R, gamma in gas calculations.

Solve closed-system thermodynamics problems by identifying substances like nitrogen and water, and applying the first law to compute heat transfer, work, and changes in internal energy across two examples.

Solve a closed-system heat transfer problem for steam in a piston at constant pressure, and determine heat transfer and work using the first law and saturated liquid–vapor properties.

Learn how the first law applies to open systems, balancing heat and work with mass and energy entering and leaving, under steady and uniform flow conditions.

Analyze open and semi open systems with the first law of thermodynamics, focusing on nozzles, diffusers, compressors, turbines, boilers, throttling devices, in steady and uniform flow processes.

Apply the open-system first law to nozzle and turbine problems. Solve for exit area, velocities, enthalpies, and turbine work in steam using superheated and saturated vapor states.

Apply open-system energy balance to compressors and boilers; solve air compressor and feed water heater problems using ideal gas air, cp, enthalpy change, mass balance, and power calculations.

Analyze steam filling of an evacuated tank with an open system, adiabatic and no kinetic energy, using enthalpy and internal energy balance from superheated steam tables.

Explain the second law of thermodynamics by defining reversible and irreversible processes, entropy changes, and the Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements; show how thermal reservoirs govern heat engines and efficiency.

explains how heat engines convert heat from a high-temperature source into net work through a thermodynamic cycle, detailing intake, compression, ignition, exhaust, heat transfer, and engine efficiency.

Explore how heat pumps transfer heat through a refrigeration cycle, detailing the compressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator, and explain the coefficient of performance for cooling and heating.

Explores the Carnot cycle as a reversible heat engine and heat pump, outlining four reversible processes between TH and TL and the concept of maximum efficiency.

Analyze Carnot cycle examples to compare thermal efficiency with maximum efficiency, then apply heat pump COP to find a minimum electrical power of 2.36 kW for heating a house.

Explain entropy as a measure of available and unavailable energy, and relate delta s to maximum work and Carnot cycle efficiency.

Explore the ideal Rankine cycle within a steam power plant, detailing boiler, condenser, pump, turbine, and generator, and examine reversible, adiabatic, and constant-pressure processes that produce electricity.

Explore the ideal Rankine cycle in a steam power plant, detailing pump work, boiler heating, turbine expansion, condenser cooling, and how enthalpy, entropy, quality, and efficiency are determined.