Course Overview
This course begins with a review of the fundamentals of thermodynamics as covered in Terms 3 and 5. The following additional topics are covered: The Second Law of thermodynamics and an introduction to entropy; the diesel and dual combustion ideal cycles, criteria of performance for internal combustion engines, and a review of the properties of water vapour; Carnot cycle and its modified form for steam plant: the Rankine cycle, its modifications, and calculation of power in impulse steam turbine blades; An analysis of the reversed heat engine cycle as found in vapour compression (refrigeration) cycles, the combustion of hydro-carbon fuels and their stoichiometric requirements, the properties of atmospheric air as relevant to air conditioning systems, and heat transfer through solid and composite walls and through lagged pipes. With reference to heat balance, the performance criteria of internal combustion engines are discussed. The calculation of boiler efficiency and the performance criteria of gas turbine cycles are also covered.
Prerequisite(s)
- Successful completion of Term 5.
Credits
6.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Solve problems based on equations for gas laws and isothermal, adiabatic, and polytropic expansion and compression processes.
- Define “heat engine” and “entropy”.
- Illustrate, on a T-s diagram, the reversible isothermal, adiabatic, and polytropic processes.
- Solve problems using the 2nd Law entropy equation.
- Describe, on a pV diagram, the diesel cycle and the dual combustion cycle.
- Calculate pressure, temperature, and volume at end points of cycle processes, and the cycle efficiency.
- Describe the Morse test.
- Solve problems based on derived equations of the Morse test.
- Calculate the performance characteristics of internal combustion engines: indicated power, brake power, friction power, brake mean effective pressure, brake and indicated thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumption, and mechanical efficiency.
- Perform an energy balance.
- Calculate enthalpy, internal energy, and volume of water substance in the following states, using steam tables: saturated vapour, dry vapour, intermediate vapour of dryness fraction, and superheated vapour.
- Describe the Carnot cycle.
- Derive the performance equation using the T-s diagram and solve related problems.
- Sketch diagrammatically, and on a T-s diagram, the components of the steam cycle.
- Define “work ratio,” “isentropic efficiency,” and “specific steam consumption”.
- Solve problems relating to work ratio, isentropic efficiency, and specific steam consumption.
- Sketch diagrammatically, the components of the steam cycle with superheat, superheat, and reheat.
- Compare Rankine cycle performance with that of a Rankine cycle with superheat and reheat, by solving problems.
- Construct the velocity vector diagrams for impulse turbines, and define all critical velocities.
- Illustrate diagrammatically, the components of a reversed heat engine cycle, and describe its operation.
- Solve problems related to a reversed heat engine cycle.
- Sketch diagrammatically, and on a T-s diagram, the components of the vapour compression system, and describe its operation.
- Solve problems using the p-h diagram or steam tables related to throttling the condensed vapour, superheating the compressed vapour, and undercooling the condensed vapour.
- Derive the combustion equations of hydro-carbon fuels and use those equations to calculate the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio of given fuels, calculate their higher and lower calorific values, and perform an analysis of the flue gas contents.
- Describe a psychrometer, and define psychrometric mixture, dew point of the mixture, specific humidity, relative humidity, percentage saturation, and boiler efficiency.
- Determine the specific enthalpy and energy of moist air.
- Calculate the total heat load of an air conditioning plant, using a psychrometric chart.
- Calculate (i) heat loss per unit length of a pipe carrying steam or any other fluid, and (ii) surface temperatures of the pipe and lagging using resistance values of the fluid film, air film, pipe, and lagging.
- Determine boiler efficiency and capacity from given data.
- Sketch diagrammatically, and on a T-s diagram, the components of a gas turbine cycle.
- Calculate compressor isentropic efficiency, turbine isentropic efficiency, cycle efficiency, power output, and work ratio.
Effective as of Fall 2017
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.