Are you a student starting lessons in Thermodynamics or beginning to use the Thermoptim software? You will find in this portal numerous resources first for an initiation to Engineering Thermodynamics and second for a gradual and thorough study of the subject.

Please be aware that these lessons are primarily integrated into the master's program at the university (although they may be considered part of the doctoral program for personal activities). We presume that you have previously completed a thermodynamics course at the undergraduate level. Therefore, our approach will involve revisiting fundamental concepts without providing detailed demonstrations.

You will discover an original tool with sessions and modules. Each Diapason module is composed of a set of sessions. Each session presents a course with a soundtrack, and some exercises. As you will see, using these sessions is very easy: a picture is loaded onto the screen, and when a soundtrack is provided, it is played so that you will hear the explanations as if the teacher were present in your room.

We recommend that you should start working on this portal by reading the presentation of its basic functionalities before discovering Thermoptim:

• Presentation of Thermoptim

• Download site for the demo software

• Getting started with Thermoptim

We also provide a self-training site on energy powered systems , which will help you learn applied thermodynamics .

Finally, you will find numerous thematic pages on this portal, and you may also download extracts from the book "Energy systems..." published by our editor,"CRC Press".

You will also discover guided explorations of energy system models. These are outlined in an HTML5 file that enables you to open and close Thermoptim files related to the studied models, plot their cycles in thermodynamic charts, and provides brief quizzes to learners for assessing their comprehension of the methods discussed.

Thermoptim is a software designed to facilitate students' understanding of thermodynamics effortlessly. In tandem with or even before the theoretical foundations are presented, students can engage in practical exercises involving real-world applications, such as the analysis of a refrigerator or a power plant. Recognizing the students' limited knowledge, the training is structured to be as straightforward as possible. Realistic results are crucial to maintaining motivation as students navigate the learning process.

With its thermodynamic function libraries, Thermoptim enables graphical modeling of both simple and complex energy technologies without the need to write a single equation. It provides highly accurate results that can be visually represented in various formats. Notably, Thermoptim allows users to overcome the restrictive assumption of the perfect gas, offering the flexibility to utilize real fluid models.

A dedicated Diapason session allows you to learn about the main features of the tool in 20 minutes.

You should also be aware that the capacity of Thermoptim for solving problems by far exceeds the abilities of a single engineer with his own models. Similarly, please note that the capacity for solving problems exceeds also the possibilities of the same engineer. Indeed a lot of knowledge is built in it.

Guided explorations of existing models of the basic energy cycles are proposed in a special browser capable of emulating Thermoptim. They have the advantage that they can be used both with the demonstration version of the software package and with another. As learners do not have to build the models themselves, some small difficulties are avoided.

Please note that Thermoptim is available in seven languages , should you wish to work in a different language than the french one.

If you haven't started using Thermoptim yet, you can download the free demo version from the S4E2 commercial site, where the software package is available for purchase. This demo version allows you to view all Thermoptim files and create small examples. However, it's important to note that you cannot save these examples with the demo version.

The following Diapason sessions will guide you on using Thermoptim to build your models from scratch:

• Gas turbine fed with air (in this case, the gas is considered to be perfect)  

• Real gas turbine, with combustion chamber

• Steam power plant

• Refrigerator

If you prefer to work with a written document , similar exercices are available in Thermoptim documentation. Written in English, they are called getting started guides:

• modeling of a combustion gas turbine

• modeling of a steam power plant 

• modeling of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle

• modeling of air conditioning cycles

Guided explorations

The initial four guided explorations will assist you in using Thermoptim with prebuilt models.

We prepared to your attention a series of self-training thematic modules , which define thematic trails browsing through the available resources. They implement a progression from the bases to personal activities, some of which being relatively complex.

Among them, you will find an an educational set of sessions. This module serves as a self-training module for energy powered systems based on the conversion of thermal energy. It is particularly focused on the main types of compressible fluid machines, including compressors, internal combustion engines, gas turbines, steam turbines, refrigeration machines, combined cycles, and co-generation.

The module aims to ensure your clear understanding of the design principles for these systems and provides insight into the various technologies used in their construction. Additionally, it aims to familiarize you with both classical methods of analysis and newer approaches involving diagrams, software packages, etc.

This training module comprises three main steps:

1. Concepts and Tools Acquisition (Approximately 12 hours):

   - Aims to refresh your understanding of the fundamentals of thermodynamics.

   - Focuses on studying basic cycles and familiarizing you with the technologies used.

   - Provides training on Thermoptim.

2. Strengthening Concepts (Approximately 8 hours):

   - Reinforces concepts from the first step.

   - Offers theoretical insights into exergy and heat exchangers.

   - Introduces variations in basic cycles, combined cycles, and co-generation.

3. Advanced Design Analysis and Personal Applications:

   - Explores more sophisticated innovative cycles compared to previous studies.

   - Encourages contemplation on technological prospects through mini-projects, either individually or within a group of students (duration varies based on chosen personal activities).

The latest online course is titled "Online Course 2022".

In this course, we provide a comprehensive online version of the lightweight presentation, along with a partial presentation of a series of cycles modeled using Thermoptim, primarily selected from those covered in the guided explorations.