ME 215 – Thermodynamics I (3 Credit Hours)
Course Description: An introduction to the principles of conservation of energy
and efficiency of the conversion of energy into work through the first and second laws of
thermodynamics. The course is subdivided into the topics of defining the properties of
matter, application of the first law of thermodynamics to open and closed systems and the
application of the second law of thermodynamics to open and closed systems.
Course Instructors: This course is typically taught by the following instructors:
Sample Syllabus: A sample syllabus indicative of that typically used in the course
can be found here.
Pre-Requisite Skills: Students entering this course are expected to have mastered
the following skills:
- MATH 227
- Evaluate definite integrals
- Obtain partial derivatives for functions with two or more variables.
Co-Requisite Skills: Students taking this course are expected to be enrolled (or to
have taken) courses that teach students the following skills:
Course Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course can be expected
to:
- Explicitly define the phase of a themodynamic working fluid through the use of phase
diagrams. Use tables of thermodynamic data to find the properties of any thermodynamic
state. (a1)
- Identify when a vapor behaves as an ideal gas and use the ideal gas equation of state to
obtain p-v-T data. (a1)
- Define system boundaries, and calculate the work crossing the system boundaries with the
correct sign connotation and units (e)
- Calculate the work of a simple compressible closed system undergoing a quasi-static
process. (e)
- Calculate net heat and work interactions using the First Law of Thermo-dynamics for a
system undergoing a cycle and for a closed system. (e)
- Calculate steady state mass flow rates for one dimensional flows using the principle of
conservation of mass to a control volume undergoing a steady flow process. (e)
- Calculate heat transfer rate and power for the control volume using the First Law of
Thermodynamics to a control volume undergoing a steady-state, steady-flow process. (e)
- Calculate heat transfer rate and power for the control volume using the First Law of
Thermodynamics to a control volume undergoing a uniform-state, uniform-flow process. (e)
- Define the operation of a heat engine and refrigerator. (a1)
- Know the implications of the Second Law of Thermodynamics as related to heat engine and
refrigerator performance though the Kelvin-Planck statement and Clausius statement. (a1)
- State the definition of a reversible process and factors that make processes
irreversible. (a1)
- Calculate the thermal efficiency and net work output of a Carnot reversible heat engine.
(e)
- Calculate the appropriate performance parameters for a Carnot engine and use these
parameters to ascertain the validity of stated performance of other engines. (e)
- Ascertain the validity of stated performance of cyclic devices using the Inequality of
Clausius from a second law perspective (e)
- Define the entropy change of a given system through tables of thermodynamic data or
appropriate equations. (e)
- Ascertain the validity of first law calculations and use T-s diagrams to show system
irreversibilities or losses. (e)
- Apply the Second Law of Thermodynamics to the steady-state, steady-flow and
uniform-state, uniform flow processes in control volumes. (e)
- Apply component efficiency to calculate the performance of devices undergoing non-ideal
processes. (e)
Sample Examinations: Examples of Examinations given in this course can be found
here.
Downstream Users: This course serves as a pre-requisite to the following courses at
The University of Alabama: