Back to Find Units Page

Unit of Study MECH3006 - Thermodynamics (2021)

Show me unit information for year

Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    Students are assumed to have passed a relevant subject in the areas of calculus (differentiation and integration) and physics at either high school or university level.

Unit description

Introduces students to the fundamental concepts of engineering thermodynamics, including the units, definitions and physical basis of thermodynamic functions, and the first and second laws of thermodynamics.  Students engage in individual modelling and analysis of thermodynamics systems applied to engineering.

Unit content

1. Introduction to thermodynamics and basic concepts  
 
2. Energy and energy transfer, first law of thermodynamics  
 
3. Thermodynamic properties of substances    
 
4. Mass and energy balances in open and closed systems  
 
5. Entropy, second law of thermodynamics  
 
6. Vapour, Combined Power and Refrigeration Cycles
 
7. Gas Mixtures, Gas-Vapour Mixtures and Air-Conditioning

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore
Session1
Session1
Online
Session1
Session1

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

Describe basic concepts, including the definition, units and physical basis of thermodynamic functions such as internal energy, entropy, enthalpy and specific heat

Use thermodynamic tables, phase diagrams and equations of state to obtain thermodynamic property data

Define the thermodynamic system of interest in a given mechanical engineering problem, and the relevant thermodynamic properties that describe the system

Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics for closed and open systems

Apply thermodynamics in mechanical systems, including power cycles, refrigeration cycles and air conditioning systems.

Develop skills in effectively using engineering simulation, in a team environment, for modelling of thermodynamic systems, and in reporting findings.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.