Engineering thermodynamics
Overall Course Objectives
The course gives students a thorough introduction to thermodynamic concepts, quantities and calculations. Based on the introduction of the laws of thermodynamics, the course treats calorimetry in a thermodynamic context and establishes the link between thermodynamics, heat transfer and electrochemistry. The conceptual framework and thermodynamic tools introduced enable the student to analyze simple real-life applications in power production and heating and cooling.
See course description in Danish
Learning Objectives
- Describe the state and thermodynamic temperature of compounds
- Formulate and explain the 1st and 2nd law of thermodynamics for control mass and control volume systems.
- Calculate the exchange of work and heat, considering the heat transfer mechanism, between a simple system and its surroundings
- Detail the thermodynamic characteristics of a compound, including specific heat capacities, and calculate specific heat capacities under given conditions
- Explain and use fundamental thermodynamic properties such as internal energy, entropy, enthalpy.
- Calculate the enthalpy of reaction for a combustion reaction and calculate the thermodynamic efficiency for an electrochemical cell
- Calculate efficiency/loss for simple thermodynamic systems
- Communicate and explain the fundamental thermodynamics involved in one of several power and refrigeration cycles
- Use tables, diagrams and equations of state to determine thermodynamic state properties, and their variation during processes.
- Analyze a relevant real-life system from a thermodynamic perspective
- Use computational tools such as Engineering Equation Solver (EES) for the description of state properties and processes.
Course Content
Introduction to ideal gases, thermodynamic temperature and internal energy. The first law of thermodynamics and exothermic/endothermic reactions, the concept of enthalpy, calorimetry and heat capacities. Heat transfer mechanism (conduction, convection and radiation). The second law of thermodynamics (reversible/irreversible processes), entropy and concept of exergy. Gibbs free energy, phase diagrams and thermodynamic “quantities” and their relation to electrochemistry.
The course will treat common thermodynamic processes (isochore, isobaric, isothermal and adiabatic processes).
For approximately one third of the course, the students will work on projects where they analyze a relevant real-life system from a thermodynamic perspective.
Recommended prerequisites
01005/01006/10018/10020/10022/10024
Teaching Method
Lectures, class discussions, assignments, project work and report writing
Faculty
Remarks
This course is part of the General Engineering specialization Future Energy and the study line Design of Sustainable Energy Systems.
Limited number of seats
Minimum: 10.
Please be aware that this course will only be held if the required minimum number of participants is met. You will be informed 8 days before the start of the course, whether the course will be held.




