- International Fees
International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Course Overview
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of heat, work and energy. The first law of thermodynamics is introduced and used to analyse engineering devices such as compressors, turbines, mixing chambers, cooling towers, heat exchangers and reciprocating engines. Both air, steam and refrigerants are used as working fluids. The second law of thermodynamics is used to evaluate the direction in which real processes occur. The concept of entropy as a property is introduced and used to evaluate irreversibilities in real processes and to quantify the efficiency of devices. Power and refrigeration cycles are introduced and the first and second laws are used to perform engineering analysis of the cycles. Laboratory demonstrations form part of the course.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
3.0
Domestic fees
$756.02
Learning Outcomes
Properties, Processes and Working Fluids
- Outline the basic definitions and assumptions used for formulating the macroscopic point of view of thermodynamics.
- Specify whether an open system (control volume) or a closed system (control mass) approach should be used in a given thermodynamic analysis.
- Use thermodynamic tables to determine properties of water, refrigerants and ideal gases.
First Law Analysis
- Analyze thermodynamic cycles and processes (employing a variety of working fluids) using the conservation of energy principle.
Second Law Analysis
- Express thermodynamic efficiencies of processes, cycles and devices in terms of entropy.
- Sketch temperature-entropy diagrams for steam showing processes graphically on the chart.
- Derive expressions for the entropy change of an ideal gas in terms of pressure, temperature and volume.
- Apply the second law of thermodynamics for a control volume.
Power and Refrigeration Cycles
- Evaluate the thermal efficiency of a cycle.
- Compute the increase in efficiency due to reheating or multistage compression in cycles.
- Analyze cycles such as the Otto, Diesel, Ericsson, Brayton and refrigeration cycles.
Mixtures and Psychrometrics
- Use P-v-T relationships for mixtures of non-reactive ideal gases solve thermodynamic and mixing problems.
- Analyze air conditioning processes such as dehumidification with heating, evaporative cooling, heating with humidification, the adiabatic mixing of two streams and the wet cooling tower.
- Apply the first law to analyze processes involving chemical reactions such as the combustion process.
- Use the second law of thermodynamics.
Effective as of Fall 2003
Related Programs
Thermodynamics (ELEX 7030) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Energy
- Electronics
Bachelor of Technology Part-time
Course Offerings
Fall 2025
Below is one offering of ELEX 7030 for the Fall 2025 term.
CRN 32088
Dates
Sep 08 - Dec 15 Loading
- CRN 32088
- $756.02 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 08 - Dec 15 | Mon | 18:30 - 21:30 | Burnaby SW01 Rm. 2019 |
Duration
14 weeks
Instructor
Gino Carrese
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
- This course will be delivered 100% in-person at the BCIT Burnaby campus. Please check the Learning Hub-D2L two days after registration. Labs to be scheduled outside of class hours on Saturdays for a total of 18 hours, on a schedule to be determined on the first day of class. No class on Monday, Oct 13th (Thanksgiving Day). Please contact Katie Howard at (604) 432-8237 or khoward18@bcit.ca for more information or to be placed on a waitlist if the course is full. Note: BCIT reserves the right to cancel courses. In the event of a course cancellation, you will be notified at least two business days prior to the course start. Please ensure that your contact information is current.
Status
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice.