EMTS1400 Thermodynamics Course description

Thermodynamics is a theory about the relationships between energy, heat and work. In this course the student will to acquire fundamental knowledge about thermodynamics. Central themes are the laws of thermodynamics, phase transitions and humid air. The applications are related to energy transport in technical systems, such as heat pumps, cooling machines, motors (heat power machines) and other devices relevant to the study.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

After completing this course, the student has the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student can:

• explain what a thermodynamic system is and can determine whether a system is isolated, closed or open.
• explain what is meant by work, heat and internal energy in thermodynamics.
• explain the content of the 1st and 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.
• explain the difference between reversible and irreversible processes.
• explain what entropy is a measure of.
• utilize the properties of state functions (eg enthalpy, entropy and inner energy) in calculations.
• explain what is meant by a thermal power machine in thermodynamics and know the examples of heat engine from daily life.
• explain the behavior of heat pumps down to component level.
• explain the term humidity, including specific and absolute humidity.
• reproduce and explain the contents of the phase diagram.
• explain how the Mollier diagram is used.
• describe phase transitions.

Skills

The student is capable of:

• calculate the energy transferred between the system and the environment in reversible and irreversible processes, e.g. in terms of work and heat.
• use equation of state in calculations
• calculate entropy differences for reversible and irreversible processes, e.g. in a heat pump.
• calculate the efficiency of heat engines, power factor for cooling machines and COP for heat pumps.
• calculate relative and absolute humidity.
• determine the dew point when calculating and using the Mollier chart.​​

General competence

The student is capable of:

• identify issues where thermodynamics can be used. evaluate the quality of their own and others' work within thermodynamics.
• communicating in an academically correct and precise manner

Lectures and exercises. During the lectures, the subject matter is presented, and the students will participate in problem solving, discussions and collaboration.

The content of the exercises includes practice in problem solving, individually or in collaboration with others. The subject teacher is present and provides help and guidance.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student is capable of explaining:

• probability, probability calculation and probability distribution
• basic statistical processing of measurement data
• confidence and significance, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing, variance analysis
• errors and uncertainty, error accumulation and uncertainty estimates
• calibration and calibration curves
• what a risk assessment is, how a risk assessment is conducted, common methods used and how risk assessment is used in risk management
• quality control and quality assessment principles

Skills

The student is capable of:

• assessing uncertainty and sources of error in measurement results
• using statistical methods to interpret and quality check measurement results
• performing risk assessments of various problems and interpreting and presenting the results of the analysis as a contribution to decisions concerning risk and quality

General competence

The student:

• has basic insight into quality assessments and requirements
• has knowledge of how accuracy and precision in measurement results are affected by sources of error and uncertainty in instrumentation, procedures and work techniques
• has insight into statistical methods for the processing and interpretation of measurement data
• has a basic understanding of ethical issues relating to risk assessment, the use of risk acceptance criteria and how risk assessments can be used and abused

Individual written exam, 3 hours.

The exam result can be appealed.

A resit or rescheduled exam may take the form of an oral exam. If oral exams are used for resit and rescheduled exams, the result cannot be appealed.

All printed and written aids, as well as a calculator. MATLAB if possible technically

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Five individual written assignments, number of pages: 10-100
• Two project assignment in groups, 2-6 students per group

Individual written exam, 3 hours

The exam result can be appealed.

In the event of a resit or rescheduled exam, oral examination may be used instead of written. If oral exams are used for resit and rescheduled exams, the exam result cannot be appealed.