MEng Mechanical Engineering with Management

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Applied Thermodynamics (Mechanical)

Course unit fact file
Unit code MECH20422
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

Most of the electrical generation in the UK and in many other countries is provided by steam turbine and gas turbine power systems. Road transportation is dominated by petrol and diesel fuelled cars, trucks and buses. Gas turbine engines of various descriptions are employed to propel aircraft and ships. Refrigeration equipment is used in fridges, freezers, heat pumps and air conditioning systems.

The intended learning outcomes focus on an understanding of most of the above-named systems and the means to analyse them, in terms of their cycle representations, thermodynamic efficiencies, work/heat inputs/outputs, fuel consumptions, etc. These analyses include the heat input to these systems which comes from internal combustion of fuel in air. Steam power plant will be covered in detail in 3rd year Engineering Thermodynamics course units.

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

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Aerospace and Mechanical Thermodynamics MECH12012 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

Aims

To develop an understanding of thermodynamic cycles to analyse propulsion/power generation and refrigeration equipment and a basic understanding of combustion, including pollutant emissions, heat release and product gas temperatures.

Syllabus

1. Review of 1st year Thermodynamics material: in particular the important steady-flow and non-flow processes, the applications of the First and Second Laws to these and the resulting equations.

2. Simple combustion analyses to determine pollutant emissions, and use of the First Law to evaluate heat release and product gas temperatures.

3. Reciprocating engines: Otto, Diesel and dual cycles, mean effective pressures and other engine related parameters, particularly brake parameters.

4. Gas Turbine engines: Industrial and Aircraft engines. Analysis of both types, using Joule cycles. Reheat and intercooling effects. The use of heat exchangers.

5. Refrigeration equipment: Reversed Rankine cycle, flash chambers, cascade systems.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 10%
Written exam 80%
Report 10%

Other - Assessed tutorial work

Feedback methods

Exams - by script viewing

Assessed tutorial work - on script plus generic feedback

Written report - on group reports plus detailed feedback sheet

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
eAssessment 5
Lectures 24
Practical classes & workshops 1
Project supervision 4
Tutorials 6
Independent study hours
Independent study 60

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Yasser Mahmoudi Larimi Unit coordinator

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