CAE 2411 - Thermal Sciences

• 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
• Determine the thermodynamics properties of moist air by reading the Psychrometric Chart
• Apply the governing equations for conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer along with the electric resistance analogy for one-dimensional steady state heat transfer to predict heat loss through the building envelope, through a duct, a pipe, a tank wall, or through other physical systems common in the built environment
• Explain how heat exchangers work (heating and cooling coils)
• Apply the LMTD method to perform a basic heat exchanger energy analysis

• None

• Basic concepts: units, thermodynamics systems, total system energy, forms of energy comprising total system energy
• Energy transfer by heat and work
• Properties of pure substances
• Boundary work
• First law of thermodynamics for steady state closed systems
• First law of thermodynamics for steady state open systems and energy analysis of commonly encountered steady flow devices
• Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics
• Carnot heat engines, Carnot refrigerators, and Carnot heat pumps
• Steady-state entropy balance for closed and open systems
• Isentropic efficiencies and isentropic gas laws
• Gas compression models:  polytropic, isothermal, isentropic
• Refrigeration cycles
• Psychrometrics and properties of moist air
• The governing equations for conduction, convection, and radiation heat transfer
• Prediction of steady state one-dimensional heat transfer rates using the electric resistance analogy
• R-values for common materials 
• Combined conduction and convection heat loss calculations through a multi-layer solid bounded by fluid(s) using cartesian coordinates
• Common heat exchanger configurations (e.g. parallel and counterflow)  and the LMTD method for modeling heat exchangers

• Weekly hands-on exercises and interactive problem-solving sessions that reinforce the weekly lecture topics