Mar 14, 2025  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Academic Catalog-June Update 
    
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2023-2024 Undergraduate Academic Catalog-June Update [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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MEC 4810 - Thermo-Fluid Systems Lab

2 lecture hours 2 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
This is the capstone course in the energy systems branch of the mechanical engineering curriculum. The course will focus on integrating concepts from thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer to analyze and design practical thermal-fluid systems. In addition, mathematical optimization and system simulation techniques will also be introduced. Laboratory experiences will focus on experimentally investigating common thermal-fluid systems as well as designing, building, and testing thermal systems. This course meets the following Raider Core CLO requirement: Integrate Learning. (prereq: MEC 3130 , MEC 3310 ) (quarter system prereq: ME 318, ME 3301)
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Design different types of heat exchangers for various applications using LMTD and ε-NTU methods
  • Design piping systems for a variety of applications
  • Select an appropriate pump for a flow system
  • Model and simulate the steady-state and transient performance of multi-component systems
  • Optimize the performance of a thermal-fluid system using calculus- and search-based techniques
  • Quantify uncertainties in experimental measurements
  • Design and execute experiments
  • Write clear and detailed laboratory and design reports
Prerequisites by Topic
Coverage of all topics presumes completion of basic engineering science courses in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer:

  • Thermodynamic properties of matter.
  • 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics
  • Control volume mass, momentum, energy and entropy analysis
  • Analysis of power and refrigeration/heat pump cycles
  • Dimensional analysis and similitude in fluid mechanics and heat transfer
  • Laminar and turbulent flow of viscous fluids.
  • External and internal flow
  • Conductive, convective, and radiative heat transfer
  • Heat exchanger analysis
Course Topics
  • Piping systems: major and minor losses; parallel and series piping systems; Hardy-Cross method
  • Pumping systems: types of pumps; cavitation and NPSH; dimensional analysis of pumps; specific speed and pump types; pumps in series and parallel; pump-system operation
  • Heat exchangers: LMTD and ε-NTU methods for analysis and design; shell-and-tube heat exchangers, plate-and-frame, and cross-flow heat exchangers; pressure drop
  • System simulation: parametric representation by curve-fitting; steady-state and transient simulation
  • Optimization:  objective function and constraints; Lagrange multipliers; calculus methods; search methods
Laboratory Topics
  • Vapor-compression refrigeration cycle
  • CFR engine
  • Cogeneration system
  • Major/minor loss characterization
  • Pump performance characterization
  • External flow over a cylinder
    • Vortex shedding
    • Drag characterization
    • Heat transfer rate
  • Design-build-test project
  • Uncertainty quantification in experimental measurements
Coordinator
Dr. Prabhakar Venkateswaran


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