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MECH5262: Foundations of Thermal Engineering (2014 - Semester 2)

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Unit: MECH5262: Foundations of Thermal Engineering 2 (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Kirkpatrick, Michael
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit: http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/MECH3260
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: AMME5200.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit aims to develop an understanding of: the principles of thermodynamic cycles, gas mixtures, combustion and thermochemistry applied to engineering processes, power and refrigeration systems; heat transfer equipment design. To classify heat transfer situations as conduction, convection, radiation, forced or natural convection. To determine the appropriate approach to problems, the type of solution needed, analytical or numerical. To be able to arrive at a solution and predict heat transfer rates and be able to design and size heat transfer equipment.

At the end of this unit students will be able to: apply the principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer to engineering situations; have the ability to tackle and solve a range of complex thermodynamics cycles, air conditioning, combustion, chemical equilibrium, problems involving gas mixtures; have the ability to tackle and solve a range of heat transfer problems including finned heat exchangers, cooling by fluids, quenching, insulation and solar radiation. Students will have the ability to solve realistic complex engineering problems using computational methods.

Course content will include: Thermodynamics: exergy and entropy, power cycles: spark ignition, Diesel, gas turbine; gas mixtures, humidity, psychrometry, air-conditioning, combustion: stoichiometry, gas analysis, combustion, thermochemistry, adiabatic flame temperature, 2nd Law analysis of reacting systems, equilibrium, exergy, Heat Transfer: Conduction, thermal circuits, general conduction equation, cylindrical fins, heat exchangers, numerical solutions, unsteady conduction, convection, analytical, forced convection correlations, natural convection, boiling, radiation spectrum, blackbody, radiation properties and laws, environmental radiation, solar.
Assumed Knowledge: Fundamentals of thermodynamics are needed to begin this more advanced course.
Lecturer/s: Dr Kirkpatrick, Michael
Timetable: MECH5262 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Laboratory 3.00 1 2
2 Lecture 3.00 3 13
3 Tutorial 2.00 2 13
4 Independent Study 7.00
T&L Activities: Lecture: Material will be presented with an emphasis on explaining concepts and presenting worked solutions of sample problems. Lecture notes will be available on the web. Lecture notes include references to relevant sections of the textbooks.

Tutorial: Tutors will work through separate tutorial problems (not out of the homework) with the class. They will use these problems as a vehicle to reinforce the theory and problem solving techniques required for this course. Tutors will also answer questions relating to the homework assignments.

Laboratory: There are two engine experiments: gas turbine and spark ignition. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the thermodynamic cycles and characteristics of these engines before the laboratory. During the laboratory there will be discussion of the engines, their details, their performance and what the objectives of the tests are. There is no report. Instead students will analyse and discuss the results with the assistance of the demonstrator during the laboratory session.

Independent Study: Homework assignments. Understanding of these assignments will be assessed through the quizzes. These assignment include more complex supplementary questions that require use of computational methods.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Adopt a problem solving approach and be able to apply theory to practice in familiar and unfamiliar situations. Design (Level 3)
To classify heat transfer situations as conduction, convection, radiation, forced or natural convection. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
Develop a body of knowledge in the field of Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer. Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
Be able to exercise critical judgement and be an independent thinker. Information Seeking (Level 3)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 3)
1. To understand heat transfer equipment design and to determine the appropriate approach to problems, the type of solution needed, analytical or numerical.
2. Ability to tackle and solve a range of heat transfer problems including finned heat exchangers, cooling by fluids, quenching, insulation and solar radiation.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
3. To be able to apply the principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer to real engineering situations. Ability to tackle and solve a range of complex thermodynamics cycles, air conditioning, combustion, problems involving gas mixtures.
4. To be able to arrive at a solution and predict heat transfer rates and be able to design and size heat transfer equipment.
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3)
5. To develop an understanding of the principles of thermodynamic cycles, gas mixtures, combustion and thermochemistry applied to engineering processes, power and refrigeration systems, and to solve complex problems using computational methods.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Thermodynamics Quiz 1 No 8.33 Week 4 3, 5,
2 Heat Transfer Quiz 1 No 8.33 Week 5 1, 2, 4,
3 Thermodynamics Quiz 2 No 8.33 Week 8 3, 5,
4 Heat Transfer Quiz 2 No 8.33 Week 9 2, 4, 5,
5 Thermodynamics Quiz 3 No 8.33 Week 11 3, 5,
6 Heat Transfer Quiz 3 No 8.33 Week 12 2, 4, 5,
7 Lab Yes 10.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
8 Final Exam No 40.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Assessment Description: Quiz: Six quizzes spread throughout the semester. Quizzes test understanding of the material covered in the homework assignments and tutorials.

Lab: Two laboratory sessions assessed on the basis of participation. Students must also pass the both labs in order to pass the course.

Final Exam: One two hour exam.
Assessment Feedback: Marked quizzes are returned and worked solutions supplied.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Special Conditions to Pass UoS Students are assessed on a pass/fail basis for laboratory work. This work must be successfully completed in order to pass this unit of study.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
Online Course Content: http://www.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/MECH3260

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 T0 Revision / T1 Entropy.
H0 H1 Conduction, thermal circuits /
Week 2 H2 General conduction, cylindrical /
T1 Entropy / T2 Exergy.
Week 3 H2 Fins /
T3 Refrigeration
Week 4 T4 Gas Mixtures
H3 Heat exchangers /
Assessment Due: Thermodynamics Quiz 1
Week 5 T5 Air Conditioning Basics
H4 Numerical solutions /
Assessment Due: Heat Transfer Quiz 1
Week 6 T5 Air Conditioning Practice
H5 Unsteady Conduction /
Week 7 T6 Combustion Stoichiometry; Gas Analysis
H6 Forced Convection /
Week 8 T6 Combustion 1st Law Analysis
H6 Forced Convection / H7 Natural Convection /
Assessment Due: Thermodynamics Quiz 2
Week 9 T6 Combustion 2nd Law Analysis
H7 Natural Convection /
Assessment Due: Heat Transfer Quiz 2
Week 10 H8 Radiation - basics, intensity /
T7 Gas Turbine engine
Week 11 T8 SI engine
H8 Radiation - surface properties, Kirchhoff /
Assessment Due: Thermodynamics Quiz 3
Week 12 H8 Radiation - environmental /
T8 SI engine / T9 Diesel
Assessment Due: Heat Transfer Quiz 3
Week 13 Summary
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Master of Professional Engineering (Mechanical) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Design (Level 3) Yes 30%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) Yes 40.49%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 3) Yes 29.49%
Information Seeking (Level 3) Yes 0%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.