Academic management

The subject belongs to the module common to Mining & Energy Resources Engineering, within the field “Energy and Environment”. It is mandatory since the concepts and skills presented are necessary for the training of engineers, not only during their study of future subjects, but also in their professional career. Thus, the study of the subject will provide the students a solid theoretical and experimental foundation, based on analysis, design and laboratory experiences attractive for the industry. The acquired knowledge is fundamental in matters such as power generation plants, vehicles, heating and refrigeration systems, alternative energy sources, environmental engineering, etc..

The subject consists of 150 hours of personal work from the students, about 40% of them being taught at the university (lectures, practices, seminars and assessment), and the remaining 60% of them requiring individual work (not at the university).

The contents of the subject are divided in four parts:

Part I: Fundamentals of Applied Thermodynamics

Basic concepts. First Law of Thermodynamics applied to closed systems. Thermal properties of gases and pure substances.

Part II: Fundamentals of Thermal machines

Application of First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics to common engineering devices.

Part III: Facilities, Equipments and heat engines

Internal combustion engines. Gas power cycles. Vapor power cycles. Refrigeration cycles.

Part IV: Heat Transfer

Conduction. Convection. Radiation. Simultaneous heat transfer modes.

In order to enrol of the subject it is strongly advisable that students have previously passed the subject “Mechanics and Thermodynamics” that belongs to the first year of the degree. It is also essential that they have acquired basic knowledge in “Calculus”, “Linear Algebra” and “Mathematical Methods”, subjects taught also in the first year of the degree. Specifically, they will have to master basic mass and heat balances, as well as the application of the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics to closed systems and simple thermodynamics cycles.

The general competencies that the students will acquire after passing the subject are the following:

• Be able to synthesize and analyze (CG01).
• Be able to organize and plan (CG02).
• Be able to communicate orally and written in the native language, both in professional and disclosure areas (CG03).
• Ability to apply basic computer skills related to field of study and the information and communication technologies (ICTs) (CG05).
• Be able to manage information (CG06).
• Be able to solve problems (CG07).
• Be able to make decisions (CG08).
• Learn optimally manage working time and organize available resources (CG09).
• Be able to work in teams (CG10).
• Be able to develop critical reasoning (CG15).
• Be able to learn autonomously (CG17).
• Be able to lead (CG20).
• Be able to take initiative and entrepreneurship (CG22).

As a specific competence of this subject, the students will acquire understanding and mastery of the basic concepts of the general laws of mechanics and thermodynamics and their application to solve the problems of engineering. Heat and mass transfer and heat engines (CC4).

The learning outcomes that the students will obtain if they pass this subject are the following:

• Relate the field of study of Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer and know the most important applications of both disciplines in the field of Thermal Engineering (2RA6).
• Apply balances of mass, energy and entropy to various systems, among which are the main teams in industrial plants (engines, turbines, compressors, boilers, condensers, etc.) (2RA7).
• Meet the teams that integrate power production cycles (steam, gas and combined) and refrigerators commonly used in the industry and be able to perform its thermodynamic analysis in order to evaluate its energy efficiency (2RA8).
• Know the main characteristics and the fundamental physical laws that the three basic mechanisms (conduction, convection and radiation) in which heat transfer is based (2RA9).
• Mathematically express the equations describing heat transfer in a physical problem from fundamental balances (mass, momentum and heat) and the laws in which the basic mechanisms rely (2RA10).

PART I. FUNDAMENTALS OF APPLIED THERMODYNAMICS

Lesson 1. Properties and processes in thermodynamic systems

Thermodynamic systems. Thermodynamic properties. State equations. Thermodynamic processes. Energy and types of energy. Determination of Thermodynamic properties by using tables and / or state equations.

Lesson 2. Basic Principles of Thermodynamics

Conservation principles. Energy transfer mechanisms: Heat and work. Statement of First Principle. Applications of the First Principle. Expansion work on theoretical processes. Processes of heat exchange: Heat capacities. Adiabatic and polytropic processes.

PART II. THERMAL AND THERMODYNAMIC PRINCIPLES OF THERMAL MACHINES

Lesson 3. First Principle in open systems

Control volume open systems. Mass balance equation: Steady-flow and non-steady-flow. Energy balance equation: Flow work and shaft work. Application of the general equation of energy to engineering equipments: pumps, nozzles and diffusers, turbines, compressors, heat exchangers or boilers and throttling valves.

Lesson 4. Second Principle of thermodynamics

Limitations of the First Principle and objectives of the Second Principle. Clausius and Kelvin Statements. Heat Engines: Thermal efficiency. Reversible machines. Carnot cycle. Second Law Corollaries. Entropy definition and applications. Entropy generation. Isentropic efficiency. Rate of entropy in reversible processes. Entropy in irreversible processes. Frictional work. Entropy  and Mollier diagrams.

PART III. FACILITIES, EQUIPMENTS AND HEAT ENGINES

Lesson 5. Reciprocating internal combustion engines

General characteristics and engine types . Theoretical cycles of reciprocating internal combustion engines. Otto cycle. Diesel cycle. Sabathé cycle. Real Cycles: Types of losses. Operating Cycles: 4-stroke and 2-stroke. Engine performance parameters: efficiency, mean effective pressure, power consumption.

Lesson 6. Power systems with steam turbines

Properties of pure substances. Surface p-v-T. P-v, T-v and P-T diagrams. Steam thermodynamic diagrams. Steam T-s and h-s diagrams. Thermodynamic Steam Tables. Features of steam as the working fluid. Carnot steam cycle. Rankine. Superheated Rankine Cycle. Simple Rankine cycle efficiency. Characteristic parameters of a Rankine cycle. Steam mass flow rate consumption and specific heat consumption. Cooling mass flow rate of the condenser. Enhanced cycles: cycle with intermediate reheating and regenerative cycle with steam extraction. Types of regenerative feed water heaters. General circuit in installations with steam turbine.

Lesson 7. Power systems with gas turbines

Brayton cycle components for closed circuit and open circuit . Efficiency of simple Brayton cycle.  Analysis of losses: actual cycle efficiency. Enhanced cycles:Brayton cycle with intercooling and reheating. Regenarative Brayton cycle.  Characteristics of Compressors, turbines and combustion chambers. Gas turbine applications.

Lesson 8. Combined cycles and cogeneration (CHP)

Combined gas-vapor power cycles.  Combined efficiency. Cogeneration systems. Electric efficiency and total efficiency.

Lesson 9. Refrigeration and heat pumps

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Refrigeration cycles and heat pumps. Reversed Carnot Cycle. Coefficient of performance (COP) in reversible heat pumps and refrigeration cycles. Actual refrigeration and heat pump cycles. 

PART IV: HEAT TRANSFER

Lesson 10. Heat Transfer mechanisms and basic laws

Concept of heat flow. Heat transfer by conduction. Fourier´s Law. Thermal conductivity. Heat transfer by convection. Newton´s Law. Convection heat transfer coefficient. Heat transfer by radiation. Stefan-Boltzmann´s Law.

Lesson 11.  Heat transfer by conduction

Examples and solving problems. Plane walls.  Application to the dimensioning of air conditioning systems. Cylindrical geometry. Application to the calculation of thermal losses and pipe insulation.

Lesson 12. Non-steady-state heat conduction

Basic concept of transitional arrangements. Energy balance on a differential volume element, integration and resulting differential equation. Basic resolutions using numerical methods.

Lesson 13. Heat transfer by convection

Basic equation. Newton´s Law. Concept of dimensionless equation.  Concept of dimensionless number. Examples of dimensionless numbers. Exhibition and resolution of simple geometries. Flow inside a pipe.

Lesson 14. Radiation

Fundamental concepts of radiation. Interaction of radiation with matter. Black and gray body. Emissivity, adsorptivity, transmissivity. Real bodies. Concept of intervening medium.

Lesson 15.  Simultaneous heat transfer modes

Thermal conductance and thermal resistance: electrical analogy in simple mechanisms. Combined transfer. Overall heat transfer coefficient. Applications of electrical analogy. Thermal circuits in complex transmission.

The subject’s teaching methodology includes assistance to the university as well as individual work from the students.

Sessions at the university are divided into:

1. One and a half-hour lectures and seminars, in which a general outlook of each topic’s contents is presented, completed by problem solving.
2. Two-hour computer and laboratory practices. Each student will make a total of 7 sessions of this kind as part of continuous assessment. For the realization of these is imperative that each student brings the laboratory notebook printed which will be available in the Virtual Campus.
3. Two-hour tutorial in small groups, dedicated to solving doubts, reviewing and complementary activities related to the contents of the subject, being part of continuous assessment.

On the other hand, students must spend a number of self-study hours to improve their comprehension on the subject. This work will consist in activities from the Virtual Campus (theoretical fundamentals’ reading, online tests, participation in debate forum, additional material, etc.), as well as autonomous work.

The table below shows the estimated number of hours that students must dedicate to the study of each part of the subject, as well as the assistance and non-assistance percentage on the total number of hours. At the end of the course, every student will have devoted 150 hours for the subject’s preparation.

Computer and laboratory practices:

Computer practices: EES software is used to solve exercises that help students to understand better the process of calculating thermodynamic properties, processes and cycles.

Laboratory practices: experimental measurements are performed to obtain power and effiviency of the studied cycles. For laboratory practice, didactic equipment is available including sensors and data acquisition and processing systems from which students perform the calculations of the thermodynamic cycles. It should be taken into account the availability of the equipment in the laboratory, so laboratory practices may undergo minor changes.

Practice 1: Use of EES software. Examples: Compressor and turbine.

Practice 2: Determination of thermodynamic properties of various fluids by software EES.

Practice 3: Analysis of Industrial devices in EES.

Practice 4: Resolution of Brayton cycle using EES.

Practice 5: Experimental study of the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle.

Practice 6: Experimental study of the Stirling cycle.

Practice 7: Heat transfer mechanisms using EES.

Exceptionally, if sanitary conditions require it, online teaching activities can be included. In that case, the students will be informed of the changes made.

Ordinary call assessment consists of:

1. A written exam. The minimum mark will be 3.5 out of 10. Failure to reach this threshold, the final grade for the subject will be the one obtained in the written exam. 

It is strictly forbidden to use programmable calculators in written examinations.

This part will represent 60% of the final mark.

The assessment will correspond to the learning outcomes 2RA6 to 2RA10.

The written exam is divided into 2 parts:

1.  Practical part:

2 long exercises. They are to be solved in separate sheets. Use a sheet on both sides to solve each problem. Students must hand in both problems with their names even in blank.

The total available time for solving problems will be indicated on the exam, but will be of 1 hour minimum.

Write in ink and use basic calculator (non-programmable and without memory) and the material for the exam available on the Virtual Campus.

1.2 Theoretical part

The theoretical part may consist either of a set of questions or a test. The teacher will choose one of the two options based on educational criteria.

1.2.1 Small questions of theory or small exercises.

5 short theoretical and/or practical questions.

To solve them it is necessary to apply theoretical concepts.

Time will be specified in the exam (between 30 and 60 minutes).

Hand in only one sheet on both sides to answer the 5 questions.

Write in ink.

1.2.2 Test.

Between 5 and 15 multiple choice questions with 4 or 5 choices per question. Only one correct answer per question. Each wrong answer subtracts 25% of a correct answer. If the test grade is negative, the mark will be zero.

The resolution time will be indicated in the examination (about 10 to 15 minutes).

Write in ink.

1. Continuous evaluation:  Computer, laboratory practices and class attendance, etc. will represent 40% of the final mark. The activities carried out by the students in the practice room as well as in the Virtual Campus will be assessed. Such assessment also corresponds to the learning outcomes 2RA6 to 2RA10.

This 40% is divided as follows:

1.  Exercises, papers, and presentations developed during the course 15%
2.  Attendance and active participation in computer and laboratory practices 5%
3.  Report/exam of laboratory practices 15%
4.  Attendance and active participation in classes 5%

Extraordinary call assessments:

The extraordinary calls assessment will follow the same procedure as the corresponding ordinary call.

The mark obtained during the continuous evaluation will be only valid for the extraordinary assessments corresponding to the present academic year, and it will represent 40% of the final mark.

Differentiated evaluation

The differentiated evaluation in Thermal Engineering course consists of the following parts:

1. A final written exam to be held at the official date that the EPM program to other students of the subject. This test represents 70% of the final grade for the course.The minimum mark will be 3.5 out of 10. Failure to reach this minimum mark, the final grade for the subject will be the one obtained in the written exam.
2. A final exam of practices that replaces the continuous assessment. This (two-hour long) test will consist of two parts, one corresponding to the evaluation of computer practices and other corresponding to the evaluation of the laboratory practices. It will take place at the same date as the official final written exam and will last for four hours. It represents 30% of the final grade of the subject.

Exceptionally, if sanitary conditions require it, online assessment methods can be included. In that case, the students will be informed of the changes made.

The students will have in the Virtual Campus specific teaching material for the lectures and seminars, as well as the necessary material for the computer and laboratory practices. Besides, they must look up some of the following references:

• Principles of engineering thermodynamics SI version. Moran and Shapiro. John Wiley and Sons.
• Thermodynamics, an engineering approach. Çengel and Boles. Mc Graw Hill.
• Basic heat and mass transfer. Mills. Irwin.
• Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer. Incropera, De Witt, Bergman and Lavine. John Wiley and Sons.