ME 435: Thermal Energy Systems Design
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. K. R. Den Braven
OFFICE: Upstairs in Gauss: 234I; phone 885-7655; email:
OFFICE HOURS (for now): 2:00-3:00 M-F
TEXTBOOK: Thermal Design and Optimization, by A. Bejan, G. Tsatsaronis, and M. Moran, Wiley & Sons, 1996.
COURSE OVERVIEW:In this course, we will be combining the three subjects of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics to study the design of thermal systems. This course, together with the machine design class, prepares you for the capstone design course. We will study: design concepts, economics and how it influences the design process, fitting techniques, equipment performance and modeling, system simulation, and system optimization.
LECTURE NOTES: You will be able to download much of the Lecture notes from the ME 435 Website! The address is
Bookmark it and visit often!
Download the lecture notes and bring them with you to class!
We will be doing a great deal of group work in the classroom. In fact, 1/4 of the 20% (i.e. 5%) for your homework will be my subjective observation of your attendance and contribution to group activities, including the project. When we do these in class, the groups will be ad hoc, and should be somewhat different each class period.
ASSIGNMENTS:Reading and homework assignments will be given in class. Homework will be due approximately weekly. The reading assignments, lectures, and handouts are all complementary, and necessary for understanding the course material. The lectures will not follow the text exactly.
I will be assuming that you are attending the lectures. If you miss a lecture, then you are responsible for finding out whatever happened in class.
If you need to get further information than the text or I give you, or need to review the prerequisite material (heat transfer, fluids, or thermodynamics) then do so. You will likely be needing to refer to your old texts at some point during the semester. We will review some of the material from those classes, but not all of it, and we will be expanding on much of what you have already learned.
Homework is due at the beginning of class on the days specified. Problems will be discussed on the days that they are turned in, so (barring emergency) late homework will NOT be accepted.
EXAMS:There will be three evenly weighted exams scheduled throughout the semester. The third one will occur during the final exam period. Unexcused absence from an exam will result in a grade of zero unless there is an exceptional, unforeseeable reason for missing it.
DESIGN PROBLEMS:
Three short individual design problems will be spaced throughout the semester. These will be individual assignments, (NO working together or copying allowed!!!!!!!!!!) These problems will be worth 5% each of the final score. There will also be a somewhat larger problem assigned near the end of the semester which will be a group assignment worth 10% of the final score. I will be assigning teams of 3-4 students for this. At that time I will also give you more details about the project, and the procedures we will be following.
COMPUTER USAGE:
There will be a number of assignments where you will need to use a computer in order to reach a solution (or to save yourself a lot of agony!). In general, you may use whatever package or language with which you are familiar that will do the job for you. I will be using primarily EES, as it has built-in thermodynamic properties, and optimization capabilities. We will discuss in class how you can get a copy of EES. I will make it available somehow on the Net, or you can get a copy by bringing me a thumb drive or blank CD. There will be at least one assignment in which you will be required to use EES, and I will set up some tutorials in it later in the semester.
TKSolver: solves linear and non-linear systems of equations
Engineering Equation Solver (EES): solves linear and non-systems; does optimization
MathCad, MatLab: solves linear and non-systems
Excel: solves linear and non-systems; has optimization capabilities
QuattroPro: solves linear and non-systems; has optimization capabilities
Maple
etc., etc., etc.!
Course Grading:
Homework:20%
Three Exams:55%
Design Problems:25%
Note: the homework problems are individual assignments! It is acceptable to work together on them, but each individual should complete his or her own solution alone. (In other words, I do not want to receive multiple copies of the same program or spreadsheet turned in as homework.) If that occurs, the first time the grade will be split among the participants. Any subsequent occurrence for all individuals will receive a grade of zero for the assignment.
I will generally use the “University scale” of 90-80-70-60 for A, B, C, D. I do reserve the right to adjust the scale. However, in all likelihood, any surprise you receive in your final grade will be a pleasant one.
This course is going to be unlike anything you have taken before! You are going to be exploring. GOOD LUCK!!!
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ME 435 Thermal Energy Systems
Lecture #1
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Thermal Energy Systems
In this class we will basically be combining the areas of heat transfer, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics that you have learned to allow you to design and model complicated systems.
Example:
1) In an internal combustion engine, where are the following topics needed?
HEAT TRANSFERFLUID MECHANICSTHERMODYNAMICS
Heat loss from engineradiator designcycle
Radiator designcylinder designfluid properties
Activity one: with your group, add two other topics to each list above. You have 5 min.
2) What are other areas important to the design of thermal systems and why??
Mechanics (power and torque)
chemistry (combustion of fuel and air)
Activity two: with your group, add two other topics to the list above. You have 2 min.
Note: the design of a system will always depend on the viewpoint of the person who defines the problem!