Thermal Course
Master the full spectrum of thermal engineering — from heat transfer fundamentals to complete system design and optimisation. This course equips you with the analytical tools, calculation methods, and design strategies used by practising engineers every day. Whether you are sizing heat exchangers, analysing thermodynamic cycles, or specifying insulation, you will build the technical confidence to deliver results.
What your team will master:
This course covers the core principles of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid flow as they apply to real engineering systems. You will learn to quantify conduction, convection, and radiation, then apply that knowledge to heat exchanger sizing, transient thermal analysis, and insulation design. Thermodynamic cycles including Rankine, Brayton, and vapour-compression refrigeration are analysed for efficiency and performance. The course also addresses electronics cooling, renewable thermal energy, computational simulation tools, and thermal safety compliance. By the end, you will be able to design, analyse, and optimise thermal systems across industrial, building, and electronics applications.
How your team learns in practice Thermal Course
How your team practises Thermal Course
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Course content
8 Chapters • 33 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)
Chapter 1HideHide detailsSee detailsFundamentals of Heat and Temperature
Fundamentals of Heat and Temperature
Lesson 1 • Nature of Thermal Energy
Defines thermal energy at the molecular level and its relationship to temperature. Anchors all subsequent heat transfer analysis in physical reality.
Lesson 2 • Energy Balance Fundamentals
Applies the first law of thermodynamics to open and closed systems. Establishes energy accounting as the basis for all thermal design.
Lesson 3 • Temperature Measurement Principles
Covers thermometric principles, sensor types, and calibration methods. Provides the measurement foundation required for all thermal analysis.
Lesson 4 • Thermal Properties of Materials
Introduces specific heat, thermal conductivity, and diffusivity. Links material selection to thermal performance in engineering applications.
Chapter 2HideHide detailsSee detailsModes of Heat Transfer
Modes of Heat Transfer
Lesson 1 • Radiation Heat Transfer
Covers blackbody radiation, emissivity, and view factors. Enables heat loss and gain calculations for surfaces exchanging thermal radiation.
Lesson 2 • Conduction Heat Transfer
Derives Fourier's law and applies it to planar and cylindrical geometries. Builds the analytical toolkit for solid-body thermal analysis.
Lesson 3 • Convection Heat Transfer
Distinguishes forced and natural convection and introduces convection coefficients. Connects fluid motion to surface heat exchange rates.
Lesson 4 • Combined and Overall Heat Transfer
Integrates all three modes into overall thermal resistance networks. Prepares students to analyse real systems with multiple simultaneous transfer paths.
Chapter 3HideHide detailsSee detailsThermodynamic Cycles and Processes
Thermodynamic Cycles and Processes
Lesson 1 • Power Cycle Fundamentals
Introduces Carnot, Rankine, and Brayton cycles as idealised power systems. Establishes efficiency benchmarks against which real cycles are compared.
Lesson 2 • Refrigeration and Heat Pump Cycles
Analyses vapour-compression and absorption refrigeration cycles. Connects coefficient of performance to practical cooling and heating applications.
Lesson 3 • Thermodynamic Process Analysis
Examines isothermal, adiabatic, isobaric, and isochoric processes on P-V and T-S diagrams. Provides the process vocabulary for cycle construction.
Lesson 4 • Second Law and Entropy
Applies the second law to identify irreversibilities and entropy generation. Enables students to quantify thermodynamic losses in real processes.
Chapter 4HideHide detailsSee detailsFluid Flow in Thermal Systems
Fluid Flow in Thermal Systems
Lesson 1 • Internal Flow Fundamentals
Covers velocity profiles, Reynolds number, and hydrodynamic entry length in ducts. Establishes flow regime identification as a prerequisite for thermal analysis.
Lesson 2 • Natural Convection Flows
Derives buoyancy-driven flow correlations for vertical and horizontal surfaces. Enables passive cooling design without forced flow assumptions.
Lesson 3 • External Flow and Boundary Layers
Analyses heat transfer over flat plates, cylinders, and bluff bodies. Extends convection analysis to external surfaces common in thermal equipment.
Lesson 4 • Convection in Internal Flows
Applies Nusselt number correlations for laminar and turbulent duct flow. Links flow conditions to convective heat transfer coefficients.
Chapter 5HideHide detailsSee detailsHeat Exchangers: Design and Analysis
Heat Exchangers: Design and Analysis
Lesson 1 • Heat Exchanger Classification
Surveys shell-and-tube, plate, and compact exchanger types by flow arrangement. Provides selection criteria linking geometry to application requirements.
Lesson 2 • Effectiveness-NTU Method
Uses the NTU-effectiveness approach for rating existing exchangers. Complements LMTD by enabling analysis when outlet temperatures are unknown.
Lesson 3 • Fouling, Maintenance, and Performance
Quantifies fouling resistance and its impact on exchanger duty over time. Connects maintenance scheduling to sustained thermal performance.
Lesson 4 • LMTD Design Method
Applies the log mean temperature difference method to size heat exchangers. Introduces correction factors for multi-pass and cross-flow geometries.
Chapter 6HideHide detailsSee detailsTransient Thermal Analysis
Transient Thermal Analysis
Lesson 1 • Numerical Methods for Transient Problems
Introduces explicit and implicit finite-difference schemes for transient conduction. Enables solution of complex geometries and boundary conditions.
Lesson 2 • Thermal Mass and Dynamic Response
Evaluates thermal mass effects on building and industrial system temperature swings. Connects transient theory to passive thermal management strategies.
Lesson 3 • One-Dimensional Transient Conduction
Uses Heisler charts and series solutions for slabs, cylinders, and spheres. Extends transient analysis to geometries where lumped models are invalid.
Lesson 4 • Lumped Capacitance Method
Applies the lumped capacitance model when internal resistance is negligible. Establishes the Biot number criterion for valid simplification.
Chapter 7HideHide detailsSee detailsThermal Insulation and Energy Conservation
Thermal Insulation and Energy Conservation
Lesson 1 • Insulation Thickness Optimisation
Calculates economic and critical insulation thickness for pipes and flat surfaces. Balances capital cost against heat loss savings over system lifetime.
Lesson 2 • Insulation Materials and Properties
Compares thermal conductivity, density, and service temperature of common insulation types. Guides material selection for specific operating environments.
Lesson 3 • Energy Auditing for Thermal Systems
Structures a thermal energy audit to quantify losses and prioritise retrofits. Translates heat loss calculations into energy cost and carbon impact.
Lesson 4 • Thermal Bridging and Air Leakage
Identifies thermal bridges in building envelopes and their effect on overall U-value. Addresses air infiltration as a parallel heat loss pathway.
Chapter 8HideHide detailsSee detailsThermal System Design and Optimisation
Thermal System Design and Optimisation
Lesson 1 • Case Studies in Thermal System Design
Applies all course concepts to realistic industrial and building thermal design cases. Consolidates competency through end-to-end problem solving.
Lesson 2 • Optimisation Techniques in Thermal Design
Applies parametric, gradient-based, and heuristic optimisation to thermal problems. Enables systematic improvement beyond trial-and-error design.
Lesson 3 • Design for Thermal Performance
Applies design variables and constraints to meet thermal performance targets. Translates engineering requirements into actionable design parameters.
Lesson 4 • Reliability and Failure Mode Analysis
Identifies thermal failure modes and applies derating and redundancy strategies. Ensures designs remain functional across operating life and extreme conditions.
Lesson 5 • Thermal System Modelling
Constructs integrated models linking components through energy and mass balances. Provides the framework for whole-system performance prediction.
Your valid completion certificate
This course is for you:
Mechanical engineer: needs structured thermal knowledge to handle heat-related design tasks.
Facilities or plant engineer: manages energy systems but lacks formal heat transfer training.
Electrical engineer: responsible for electronics cooling and thermal reliability in product design.
Engineering student: wants applied thermal depth beyond what a single university course provides.
Career changer entering energy or HVAC: needs credible technical grounding to compete professionally.
Sustainability consultant: quantifies heat loss and energy waste but needs stronger analytical methods.
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