Core Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics for all Engineering Themes.
Semester: 1 and 2
CATS points: 15 ECTS points: 7.5
Co-ordinator(s): Professor John S Shrimpton
Pre-requisites and / or co-requisites
Mathematics and Physics A level
Aims and objectives
The aims of this module are:
- Provide an understanding of fundamental aspects of the physics of thermofluid flow processes, and to develop tools to analyse simple engineering thermofluids systems
Objectives (planned learning outcomes)
Knowledge and understanding
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
• the properties of thermofluid flow and methods of analysis, including conservation principles for mass, momentum and energy
• a framework for advanced courses by introducing and classifying common engineering applications
• concepts of laminar and turbulent flow, boundary layers, bluff body and streamlined flow, transition, separation and cavitation
• the energy conversion processes involving heat, work and energy storage
• the application of thermodynamic principles to the propulsion of land, sea and air transport and in the generation of power
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
• understand important thermofluids properties and principles in fluid mechanics
• perform straightforward analysis of examples of mass, momentum and energy conservation
• use dimensional analysis in appropriate ways and explain the physical meaning of various non-dimensional parameters
• assess simple flows and their behaviour from fundamental information such as the value of the Reynolds number and the shape of the body
• analyse various thermal processes and plant
• Critically analyse results
• Produce scientific reports describing laboratory experiments
General transferable (key) skills:
• study and learn independently
• communicate work in written reports
• demonstrate study and time management skills
• solve problems
• Appreciate sustainability and ethical issues in engineering
Part 1 : Tools of the trade (14 lectures)
Part 1.1 : Applied Math Tools (an overview of what should be understood coming into this course)
• Applied maths overview (basic integration, including over surfaces, differentiation, Taylor series, Newton’s Law, some thermodynamic principles
Part 1.2 : Conceptual Principles in Thermofluids
• An extension of A level applied maths/physics (mass, force, acceleration, rates of change, moments), mass, force, acceleration, forms of energy (potential, kinetic, thermal, but not its conversion), and support this by a definitive nomenclature for the remainder of the course.
• Solids/liquids/gases from a molecular description – first introduction to pressure, the equilibrium state.
• Bulk modulus and compressibility
• The continuum approximation
• Other thermofluid approximations
• Properties of a fluid, and properties of a flow of fluid
• Ideal gases and the gas law (thermodynamic pressure), definitions of heat and work, sign conventions, types of non-flow processes, p-V diagrams, First Law of thermodynamics.
• Convection (bulk transport)
• Diffusion (molecular transport of momentum/shear stress and energy)
• Systems and control volumes, surface flux, the conservation principle.
• Fundamental and derived quantities.
• Intensive and extensive properties.
• Dimensions and units, Dimensional homogeneity.
• The importance of length, velocity, time scales in a problem.
• Present several non-dimensional numbers and explain what they represent in terms of force/ timescale ratios etc and demonstrate how they are used to maintain similarity.
• Buckingham Pi (brief introduction here, used throughout the remainder of the course)
Part 2 : Thermofluid Mechanics
Part 2.1 : Fluid Statics – 4 lectures
• Static pressure, Pascal’s law
• Hydrostatic equation, manometry, and demonstration of potential energy
• Forces on planar and curved gates, moments etc
• Buoyancy and stability
• Non-dimensional analysis.
Part 2.2 : Inviscid Flow/Conservation Equations - 12 lectures
• Rotation, vorticity, irrotational flow
• Acceleration, Eulers equation
• Conservation of mass
• Conservation of Energy
o Bernoulli’s equation, cavitation
o flow measurement
o mechanical energy losses, pressure drop in pipes
o Steady flow Energy Equation, nozzles, throttles, heat exchangers etc
• Conservation of Momentum
o Momentum as a vector quantity
o Force – momentum equation
o Fluid Drag and Wakes
Part 2.3 : Viscous Flow – 4 lectures
• Couette and Pipe flows
• Streamline flows, bluff bodies, separation
• Boundary layers
Part 3 : Thermal energy systems (10 lectures)
• Introduction to the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
• Definition of the heat engine and cycle efficiency.
• The Carnot heat engine.
• Reversed heat engines (heat pump and refrigerator) and coefficient of performance.
• Reversible and irreversible processes. Corollaries of the second law. Definition of entropy and its use in engineering thermodynamics.
• Entropy change in isothermal and adiabatic processes. Isentropic processes.
• Introduction to cycles. The Otto, Diesel and Brayton cycles and their applications.
Learning and teaching
Study time allocation
Contact hours: 70
Private study hours: 80
Total study time: 150 hours
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include:
• Lectures and videos of lecture material
• Example problems
• AV presentations
Learning activities include:
• Directed reading
• Problem solving
• Practical classes
Resources and reading list
Course notes will be provided.
Problem books and lab sheets will be provided.
Bespoke textbook available
|Assessment Method||Number||% contribution to final mark||Final assessment (√)|
|Coursework and lab returns, group tutorial sessions, 1-2-1tutor sessions||~30||n/a|
|Referral Method||Number||% contribution to final mark|
|2 hour exam||1||100|
|Method of repeat year||Repeat year externally
Repeat year internally