MEEN40010 Engineering Thermodynamics III

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module is intended to advance student learning on topics in Engineering Thermodynamics and Radiative Heat Transfer. Students taking this module should have already completed modules equivalent to MEEN10050 Energy Engineering, MEEN20050 Heat Transfer, and MEEN30100 Engineering Thermodynamics III.

MODULE TOPICS;
Thermodynamic analysis of hydrocarbon fuel combustion and pollutant formation processes in boilers and internal combustion engines.
Psycrometrics (Air Water - Vapour Mixtures).
Radiation Heat Transfer.
Thermodynamics in the Environment.


ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
Separate from the lecture material, each student is required to complete an essay assignment on an individual basis. This is based on a review of published literature from reputable sources and should comprise approximately 2000 (+ 250) words on any one topic chosen freely by the student from an extended list.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:



Apply the First Law of Thermodynamics to problems involving the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels and consequent formation of atmospheric pollutants.

Apply the Laws of Thermodynamics to practical situations involving the operation of the boilers, internal combustion engines and catalytic converters, with particular emphasis on combustion processes and exhaust emissions formation.

Demonstrate understanding of the principles and application of psychrometry.

Analyse thermal systems where heat transfer by radiation plays a significant role.

Apply thermodynamic principles and laws, to analyse “non-engineering” processes observed in the environment.

Indicative Module Content:

COMBUSTION PROCESSES IN BOILERS AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
Properties of gas mixtures, Properties of Hydrocarbon fuels, Stoichiometry, Enthalpy of Formation, Enthalpy of Combustion, Heating Value of fuels, First Law for Reacting Systems, Adiabatic Flame Temperatures, Dissociation, Emissions formation, Combustion Efficiency. Efficiency of water-heating boilers. Factors affecting performance and efficiencies of internal combustion engines. Combustion processes and exhaust emissions formation in Spark Ignition and Compression Ignition Internal Combustion engines.

PSYCHROMETRICS (Air Water - Vapour Mixtures)
Psychrometric concepts and theory. Thermodynamic properties of moist air: dry bulb temperature, dew point temperature, relative humidity, absolute humidity, adiabatic saturation temperature, specific enthalpy. Thermodynamic wet bulb temperature. The psychrometric chart.

RADIATION HEAT TRANSFER
Radiation Fundamentals - Introduction and Applications.
Radiative Properties of Surfaces, Spectral Blackbody Emissive Power, Wien’s Displacement Law, Stefan-Boltzmann Law. Radiation Exchange between Surfaces - View factors, Blackbody radiation exchange. Gray surface radiation exchange.

THERMODYNAMICS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere; Thermodynamics of Equilibrium for multi-phase and chemically-reacting systems; Thermodynamics of Mechanical Explosions, or Thermodynamics of Biological Systems.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Specified Learning Activities

20
Autonomous Student Learning

60
Total

116
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will delivered primarily as a programme of approximately 30 formal lectures, delivered face-to-face in the lecture theatre.

Also, each student is required to complete an essay assignment on an individual basis. This is based on a review of published literature from reputable sources and should comprise approximately 2000 (+ 250) words on any one topic chosen freely by the student from an extended list. The intention is to facilitate independent and more in-depth learning on a topic that is relevant to the module. In doing this, students should become familiar with how to source and interpret some reputable / refereed publications that discuss the current state of the art and possibly identify future development prospects. Writing a concise summary in the student’s own words is an important skill that will most likely be needed in the course of a future engineering career.

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students taking this module should have previous education in Engineering Thermodynamics. Ideally, students would have already completed MEEN30100 Engineering Thermodynamics II.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Assignment on topic selected by student from a list of topics).
 Week 3 n/a Graded No

25
Examination: Assessment of material presented by Lecturer #1
1-hour Invigilated Closed-book Assessment.
1800-1900 hrs., Monday, October 16th, 2023.		 Week 6 No Graded No

25
Examination: Assessment of material presented by Lecturer #2
1-hour Invigilated Closed-book Assessment.
1800-1900 hrs., Monday, November 20th, 2023.		 Week 11 No Graded No

25
Examination: Assessment of material presented by Lecturer #3
1-hour invigilated Closed-book End of Trimester Examination		 1 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

25

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Essay (Letter) grades for each Assessment item will be released as soon as practicable.

Name Role
Professor Donal Finn Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ali Saberi Mehr Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr William Smith Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor David Timoney Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 13:00 - 13:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn