Applied Thermodynamics Course

Lesson 1 • State Properties and Process Variables

Distinguishes intensive from extensive properties and state from path functions. Connects property definitions to measurable physical quantities.

Lesson 2 • Temperature, Pressure, and Volume

Covers measurement principles and scales for the three primary state variables. Builds quantitative fluency needed for equation-of-state applications.

Lesson 3 • Thermodynamic Systems and Boundaries

Defines open, closed, and isolated systems with their boundaries and surroundings. Provides the classification framework used throughout all subsequent analyses.

Lesson 4 • Pure Substances and Phase Behavior

Introduces phase diagrams, saturation states, and the critical point for pure substances. Prepares students to read property tables and phase envelopes.

Lesson 1 • Ideal Gas Equation of State

Derives and applies the ideal gas law and its limitations for real engineering gases. Connects molecular assumptions to macroscopic property relationships.

Lesson 2 • Real Gas Equations of State

Presents van der Waals and other cubic equations for non-ideal behavior correction. Prepares students for accurate property estimation in industrial gas systems.

Lesson 3 • Superheated and Compressed Liquid Tables

Covers property extraction for single-phase regions beyond the saturation dome. Extends lookup skills to high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.

Lesson 4 • Steam Tables and Saturation Data

Explains the structure of saturated liquid and vapor tables and their indexed variables. Directly enables property lookup for water-steam systems.

Lesson 1 • First Law for Closed Systems

Applies the energy balance to isochoric, isobaric, isothermal, and adiabatic processes. Develops systematic problem-solving methodology for closed-system scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Energy Forms and Conservation Principle

Defines internal, kinetic, and potential energy and establishes the energy balance framework. Grounds all subsequent first-law calculations in physical meaning.

Lesson 3 • Transient and Uniform-Flow Processes

Handles filling, emptying, and charging processes where system mass changes with time. Completes first-law coverage for dynamic industrial scenarios.

Lesson 4 • First Law for Open Systems

Extends energy balance to control volumes with mass flow, including flow work and enthalpy. Enables analysis of turbines, compressors, nozzles, and heat exchangers.

Lesson 1 • Entropy: Definition and Calculation

Defines entropy via the Clausius inequality and derives calculation methods for ideal gases and incompressible substances. Quantifies disorder and irreversibility.

Lesson 2 • Carnot Cycle and Thermodynamic Temperature

Analyzes the Carnot cycle as the ideal reversible standard and derives the thermodynamic temperature scale. Sets the upper efficiency bound for all heat engines.

Lesson 3 • Statements and Corollaries of the Second Law

Presents Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements and their equivalence. Establishes the theoretical basis for all efficiency limits and irreversibility analysis.

Lesson 4 • Isentropic Efficiency of Devices

Defines and calculates isentropic efficiency for turbines, compressors, pumps, and nozzles. Bridges ideal analysis to real device performance evaluation.

Lesson 1 • Rankine Cycle for Steam Power

Develops the ideal and actual Rankine cycle as the standard for steam power plants. Quantifies pump and turbine work, heat input, and cycle efficiency.

Lesson 2 • Air-Standard Analysis and Otto Cycle

Introduces air-standard assumptions and applies them to the Otto cycle for spark-ignition engines. Establishes the analytical template for all gas power cycles.

Lesson 3 • Brayton Cycle for Gas Turbines

Analyzes the ideal and actual Brayton cycle including compressor and turbine irreversibilities. Prepares students for gas turbine and jet propulsion system analysis.

Lesson 4 • Cycle Modifications and Improvements

Covers reheat, regenerative, and intercooling modifications that improve cycle performance. Connects thermodynamic analysis to real power plant design decisions.

Lesson 1 • Heat Pump Applications and Analysis

Evaluates heat pump performance for space heating and industrial process heat recovery. Connects COP analysis to economic and energy-efficiency decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle

Develops the ideal and actual vapor-compression cycle with refrigerant property data. Establishes the dominant industrial refrigeration analysis framework.

Lesson 3 • Gas Refrigeration Cycles

Analyzes reversed Brayton and aircraft cooling cycles using gas as the working fluid. Covers applications where vapor-compression systems are impractical.

Lesson 4 • Cascade and Multi-Stage Systems

Extends single-stage analysis to cascade and multi-stage compression for wide temperature ranges. Addresses industrial low-temperature and high-capacity refrigeration needs.

Lesson 1 • Gas Mixture Properties and Composition

Defines mole fraction, mass fraction, and partial pressure for ideal gas mixtures. Provides the compositional framework for all mixture property calculations.

Lesson 2 • Combustion Stoichiometry

Establishes stoichiometric and excess-air combustion equations for common fuels. Prepares students for energy release and emissions calculations in combustion systems.

Lesson 3 • Air-Conditioning Processes

Applies psychrometric analysis to heating, cooling, humidification, and dehumidification processes. Connects mixture thermodynamics to practical HVAC system design.

Lesson 4 • Psychrometrics and Humid Air

Analyzes moist air properties using the psychrometric chart and governing equations. Enables HVAC load calculations and air-conditioning process design.

Lesson 1 • Exergy Concept and Dead State

Defines exergy as maximum useful work relative to the dead state environment. Establishes the reference framework for all exergy calculations.

Lesson 2 • Thermoeconomics and Optimization

Combines exergy analysis with cost accounting to minimize the cost of irreversibility. Introduces optimization strategies for real industrial energy systems.

Lesson 3 • Exergy Balance for Components

Applies exergy balance to turbines, compressors, heat exchangers, and mixing chambers. Produces component-level exergy efficiency metrics for system benchmarking.

Lesson 4 • Exergy Transfer and Destruction

Quantifies exergy transfer by heat, work, and mass flow and links destruction to entropy generation. Enables identification of the most thermodynamically costly components.