MEng Mechanical Engineering

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Engineering Thermodynamics

Course unit fact file
Unit code MECH32102
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Prime movers are of central importance to industrial economies. This unit covers refined analytical methods that allow the analyses of important current power plant and air-conditioning applications.
Looking to the future without hydrocarbon fuel energy systems, the unit discusses and analyses potential systems involving the use of gases such as CO2, liquefied gases such as N2 and the production and use of low-carbon chemical steam systems.


This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.  Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates

Aims

To familiarise students with advanced steam power systems (i.e. ground based vapour power turbines) and reciprocating engines and their thermodynamic cycle analyses.
To teach the theory and application of air conditioning systems.
To analyse potential future thermodynamic systems, e.g. the use of CO2 in refrigeration and power plant, applications of cryogenic power systems and chemical steam systems.
 

Syllabus

Steam Power Cycles: Analysis of Carnot and superheated Rankine cycles, effects of irreversibilities. Extensions to reheat and regenerative cycles. Including supercritical systems.
Psychrometry: Absolute and relative humidity, mass and energy balances, as applied to air conditioning.
Advanced IC Engine Analyses: Effects of friction and valve timings, Atkinson/Miller cycle.
Carbon dioxide fuelled plant: Refrigeration systems, requiring transcritical cycle analyses.
Cryogenic Power systems: The use of liquefied gases such as nitrogen to power niche application devices.
Chemical Steam: Production of high temperature and pressure steam/CO2 mixtures with low CO2 content to run steam plant, reciprocating engines and ‘gas’ turbine plant.

EBL on Steam Power Plant Design: Use of an in-house MATLAB code to examine effects of input parameters on cycle efficiencies and net work output of a variety of subcritical steam power plant designs.

Intellectual skills


Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 80%
Report 20%

Feedback methods

Written feedback provided on the group reports and coursework. Feedback provided according to school deadlines. Refer to section 8 for feedback relating to EBL activity.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
eAssessment 16
Lectures 22
Tutorials 2
Independent study hours
Independent study 60

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Amir Keshmiri Unit coordinator

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