Learning outcomes

After a finished course the students should be able to:

• Describe and apply the physical concepts work, heat, inner energy, temperature, observables, entropy and distributions.
• Describe and apply the laws of thermodynamics.
• Use macroscopic observables and experimental data in technical applications.
• Analyse heat processes and use them in practical applications.
• Calculate the efficiency of heat motors and heat pumps.
• Calculate the thermal conductivity for various geometries.
• Make basic calculations on technical heat processes using MATLAB.

Content

Energy transport and analysis of open and closed systems. Pure substances, phase transitions and their description using relations between functions of state. Equations of states including the ideal gas law, phase diagrams, Mollier and Ts-diagrams. Classical kinetic theory of gases. The Maxwell velocity distribution. Specific heat. Heat conduction in different geometries, convection, thermal radiation. Stefan-Boltzmann’s and Wien’s law. The laws of thermodynamics. The Carnot cycle for heat engines and heat pumps. Efficiency.

Entropy in thermodynamic cycles and the Boltzmann entropy formula. Examples of gas cycles including the Otto-, Diesel- and Brayton cycle. Ideal steam cycles (the Rankine cycle) with heat exchanger, steam generator, turbine and condenser. Isentropic processes and isentropic efficiencies in technical applications. Manipulation and integration of partial derivatives to calculate observables using an equation of state. Maxwell’s relations.

Instruction

Lectures, exercise classes, laboratory exercises. Study visit.

Assessment

Hand-in problems using MATLAB and laboratory exercises. The laboratory exercises are examined orally in a group (1 credit). Written examination (4 credits).