Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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AE 2121 - Fundamentals of Thermodynamics

4 lecture hours 0 lab hours 4 credits
Course Description
This course provides Architectural Engineering and Construction Management students with the necessary fundamentals of thermodynamics as they relate to building thermal systems and applications. Topics cover a range of principles from basic energy and mass balances to refrigeration cycles and heat exchangers. (prereq: MA 137 , PH 2011 )
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Determine the thermodynamic properties of pure substances using the property tables, and for ideal gases, liquids, and solids using property relationships
  • Apply the first law of thermodynamics to analyze open and closed systems typically encountered in buildings and HVAC systems
  • Apply the second law of thermodynamics to calculate actual and reversible thermal efficiencies, COPs, and power requirements of systems operating on thermodynamic cycles
  • Apply the second law of thermodynamics to analyze isentropic and non-isentropic processes
  • Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics to analyze the vapor compression (VC) refrigeration cycle and the individual processes that comprise the cycle
  • Understand how heat exchangers work (heating and cooling coils); their energy and mass balances, and their effectiveness

Prerequisites by Topic
  • Calculus II: Basic integration, integration of areas

Course Topics
  • Basic concepts
  • Properties of pure substances
  • Energy transfer by heat and work
  • 1st Law of Thermodynamics
  • 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
  • Entropy
  • Refrigeration cycles
  • Heat exchangers
  • General review/problem-solving sessions

Laboratory Topics
  • 1 lab hour to conduct necessary measurements on a heat exchanger and calculate its effectiveness

Coordinator
Dr. Deborah Jackman



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