ME 460 – Thermal Systems Instrumentation (3 Credit Hours)

Course Description: Selection and use of pressure, temperature, fluid flow, and heat transfer instrumentation. Hands-on experiences with fluid flow, heat transfer, refrigeration and heat engine equipment. Statistical design of experiments. Writing proficiency is required for a passing grade in this course.

Course Instructors: This course is typically taught by the following instructor(s):

• Dr. Clark Midkiff

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:

• ME 360 - Control and Instrumentation Components
• Write a competent technical report
• Use analog and digital oscilloscopes and data acquisition systems to determine amplitude, frequency, and phase of periodic signals
• Calculate uncertainty for results computed from several uncertain measurements using the partial derivative form and the simplified form
• Basic understanding of electric circuit principles (ECE 320, which is prerequisite to ME 360)
• Design and sketch wiring diagrams and select components for standard op-amp or filter circuits

Co-Requisite Skills: Students taking this course are expected to be enrolled (or to have taken) courses that teach students the following skills:

• ME 415 - Energy Systems Design
• Calculate flow rates and head loss in piping networks
• Calculate effectiveness for common heat exchanger types
• Calculate pump performance and analyze flow systems that utilize pumps

Course Objectives: Students who successfully complete this course are expected to:

• Work in U.S. engineering and SI units (a1)
• Distinguish between bias error and precision error (a1)
• Calculate uncertainty for results computed from several uncertain measurements using the partial derivative form and the simplified form (n)
• Write a good quality technical report using good grammar, diction, graphical presentation and documentation, and including a discussion of results that considers uncertainty and sources of error (g)
• List several pressure transducers of each major type: (1) gravitational based and (2) elastic type (a2)
• Calibrate a pressure transducer using a dead weight tester (k)
• Select an appropriate pressure transducer for various applications considering requirements of pressure range; accuracy; gage, absolute or differential; material compatibility; dynamic response; desired output; and cost (o,c)
• List several flow methods of each major type: (1) drag effect meters, (2) flow obstruction meters, and (3) positive displacement meters (a2)
• Select an appropriate flow meter for various applications considering requirements of fluid type (gas vs. liquid); accuracy; head loss; dynamic response; desired output; rate vs. totalizing; and cost (o,c)
• Perform basic computations and measurements for rotameters, wet test meters, orifice meters, flow nozzles, venturis and pitot tubes (e)
• List several temperature transducers of each major type: (1) thermal differential expansion, (2) variation in electrical properties, and (3) variation in physical appearance (a2)
• Select an appropriate temperature transducer for various applications considering requirements of temperature range; accuracy; gage, material compatibility; dynamic response; desired output; and cost (o,c)
• Perform basic computations for thermocouple, RTD and thermistor transducers (e)
• Perform basic calculations and measurements of light intensity and illumination level (b)
• Perform measurements and calculations of heat exchanger effectiveness and heat transfer rate (b)
• Perform measurements and calculations of pump flow, head and efficiency (b)
• Perform and analyze results of simple multi-variable factorial experiment design (b,n)
• Use a spreadsheet program to fit data to simple linear and non-linear models using regression analysis (n)

Sample Examinations: Examples of Examinations given in this course can be found here.

Downstream Users: This course is a terminal course- no downstream courses.