MEC 3140 - Thermodynamics II

• Explain the characteristics and differences among reciprocating engine cycles
• Calculate reciprocating engine performance parameters
• Evaluate the performance Rankine and Brayton cycles, with their modifications
• Design power and refrigeration cycles to meet design specifications
• Calculate thermodynamic properties of ideal gas mixtures
• Utilize the psychrometric chart to evaluate various psychrometric properties
• Perform mass and energy balances on various air-conditioning processes
• Balance combustion reactions involving hydrocarbon fuels
• Perform open and closed system energy balances on combustion processes
• Calculate the adiabatic flame temperature for combustion processes
• Assess the impact of combustion parameters on pollutant emissions and control
• Define and evaluate various properties associated with compressible flow such as stagnation properties, speed of sound, and Mach number
• Explain how disturbances are propagated through compressible media and distinguish between subsonic and supersonic flows
• Evaluate the variation of kinematic and thermodynamic properties in flows through converging and converging-diverging nozzles
• Explain the phenomena of choked flow and its implications
• Compute the kinematic and thermodynamic property changes across a normal shock
• Explain the current status and relative importance of different forms of renewable energy systems including solar, wind, and geothermal
• Evaluate the performance of solar, wind and geothermal energy applications
• Complete open-ended problems focusing on the design of energy conversion systems

• Thermodynamics I

• Reciprocating engines: air-standard assumptions, engine terminology, Otto, diesel, and dual cycles
• Brayton cycle: ideal, non-ideal, reheat, regeneration, and intercooling
• Rankine cycle: ideal, non-ideal, reheat, regenerative
• Cogeneration and combined gas-vapor power cycles
• Refrigeration cycle: cascade, multistage, and gas refrigeration cycles, refrigerant selection
• Gas mixtures: mass and mole fractions, properties
• Psychrometrics: relative humidity, dew-point temperature, wet-bulb temperature, psychrometric chart, air conditioning processes
• Chemical reactions: balancing combustion reaction, air-fuel ratio, equivalence ratio, enthalpy of formation, enthalpy of combustion, heating values, first-law analysis of reacting systems, adiabatic flame temperature
• Compressible flow: stagnation properties, speed of sound and Mach number, isentropic flow through nozzles, normal shocks
• Renewable energy systems: solar, wind, and geothermal energy systems