Learning Outcomes:
Apply the First Law of Thermodynamics to problems involving the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels and consequent formation of atmospheric pollutants.
Apply the Laws of Thermodynamics to practical situations involving the operation of the boilers, internal combustion engines and catalytic converters, with particular emphasis on combustion processes and exhaust emissions formation.
Demonstrate understanding of the principles and application of psychrometry.
Analyse thermal systems where heat transfer by radiation plays a significant role.
Apply thermodynamic principles and laws, to analyse “non-engineering” processes observed in the environment.
Indicative Module Content:
COMBUSTION PROCESSES IN BOILERS AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
Properties of gas mixtures, Properties of Hydrocarbon fuels, Stoichiometry, Enthalpy of Formation, Enthalpy of Combustion, Heating Value of fuels, First Law for Reacting Systems, Adiabatic Flame Temperatures, Dissociation, Emissions formation, Combustion Efficiency. Efficiency of water-heating boilers. Factors affecting performance and efficiencies of internal combustion engines. Combustion processes and exhaust emissions formation in Spark Ignition and Compression Ignition Internal Combustion engines.
PSYCHROMETRICS (Air Water - Vapour Mixtures)
Psychrometric concepts and theory. Thermodynamic properties of moist air: dry bulb temperature, dew point temperature, relative humidity, absolute humidity, adiabatic saturation temperature, specific enthalpy. Thermodynamic wet bulb temperature. The psychrometric chart.
RADIATION HEAT TRANSFER
Radiation Fundamentals - Introduction and Applications.
Radiative Properties of Surfaces, Spectral Blackbody Emissive Power, Wien’s Displacement Law, Stefan-Boltzmann Law. Radiation Exchange between Surfaces - View factors, Blackbody radiation exchange. Gray surface radiation exchange.
THERMODYNAMICS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere; Thermodynamics of Equilibrium for multi-phase and chemically-reacting systems; Thermodynamics of Mechanical Explosions, or Thermodynamics of Biological Systems.