Presentation

In this introductory session, we present the main elements underlying our educational approach, which is inspired by constructivism.

We indeed consider that you will build by yourself your knowledge: we simply provide you with a new educational approach and on-line multimedia resources.

It is up to you to make the best use possible of these, depending on your personality and your own objectives, knowing that the results you get will depend largely on your personal investment, that is to say the dedication with which you work.

The teaching approach is original but has been proven in class practice in many education institutes. Based on the use of the Thermoptim software, it facilitates the learning of the discipline. Its motto is “painless thermodynamics”.

Online support associates working sessions and downloadable resources, the latter being mainly course materials complementary to the textbook.

Oral presentations are based on the Diapason sessions, which are educational animated slide shows, each provided with a soundtrack.

These sessions allow you to work at your own pace, and access online at any time:

• the oral explanations given by the teacher in addition to written materials available to you;
• exercises, which gives you the opportunity to familiarize with the various thermodynamic cycles and their analysis methods.

A demo version of Thermoptim can be downloaded from the link below. Even if you cannot save your work with it, it allows you to conduct many educational activities, and it loads all the projects created by Thermoptim, whatever their size.

• Thermoptim UNIT portal
• Book Energy Systems
• Thermoptim demo version

(Session realized on 06/15/11 by Renaud Gicquel)

Educational principles

• a new and original educational approach
• already in use in many institutes
• painless thermodynamics
• online support
• resources

• working sessions

  • oral explanations: the essential
  • reinforcement activities
  • evaluations

Energy systems

Systems

Components: 4 basic functions 2 types of energy exchanges reference processes Fluid properties: ideal gas vapors (h, P), (T, s) charts

Course structure

• three main parts
• fundamentals
• components
• systems
• an iterative pedagogy

Fundamentals of thermodynamics

• Basic concepts

• classical approach

  • Diapason sessions S02En, S03En
  • S04aEn (fluid properties)

• simplified approach (without entropy)

  • hyperlink below
  • S04aEn (fluid properties)

• Lightweight presentation

Component main functions

• four main functions
• compression (S11En)
• expansion with work production (S11En)
• expansion without work production
• temperature change: heating & cooling (S10En), combustion (S15En)

Application of the first law

• enthalpy h: energy put into play
• Δh = τ: compression, expansion with work production
• Δh = 0: expansion without work production
• Δh = Q: temperature change (heating, cooling, combustion)

Reference processes

• Component reference processes
• reversible adiabatic: compression, expansion with work production
• isenthalpic: expansion without work production
• isobaric: temperature change (heating, cooling, combustion)

Course structure

• three main parts
• an iterative pedagogy
• simplified gas turbine model (comparison with analytical calculations, S21En and S22En)
• combustion, realistic gas turbine model (S24En)
• vapor cycles (steam power plant (S26En), refrigerator (S31En))
• heat exchangers (S18En), exergy balances (S06En)
• reciprocating internal combustion engines, combined cycles, cogeneration facilities