Technical Thermodynamics

Technical Thermodynamics
Chapter 1 Introduction
Egon P. Hassel, University Rostock, Germany, Inst Technical Thermodynamics
October 25, 2010

In Italy

Egon P Hassel www.egonsthermosite.eu University Rostock, Germany

Chapter 1: Introduction
Section 1.1: Introduction, some nomenclature, fundamental terms
Technical thermodynamics and Engineering thermodynamics are the same
and mean thermodynamics for mechanical engineering. And that is mostly an
energy related thermodynamics in contrast to chemical thermodynamics. As with
each new theory one would like to introduce firstly some new terms and
definitions in order to work with these later on, e.g. the terms system, state,
state variable, equilibrium and process. Further we should define and
quantify things like energy, entropy, work, heat, temperature, pressure,
ideal gas and gas thermometer early on so that students are able to solve
problems in exercises on an early stage. At the end of this chapter the extremely
important concept of the balances are explained in very detail. To make things
easy I invented a simple example with the apple balance and I will explain the
money account balance anyone knows from everyday life. And it should already
be mentioned here, that the basics of thermodynamics are firstly the balances
and secondly the material properties. The former can be and will be derived
from the laws of physics and the latter enter the theory of classical and
engineering thermodynamics from measurements or from statistical physics. So
they are introduced into the theory of classical and engineering thermodynamics
like axioms.
Section 1.2: Preliminary notes
With the nomenclature there might be some small inconsistencies within the
script and with the translation from German to English nomenclature. I apologize
for this inconvenience. The possible differences are shown in the following four
figures.

Egon P Hassel www.egonsthermosite.eu University Rostock, Germany

Technical Thermodynamics

Egon P Hassel www.egonsthermosite.eu University Rostock, Germany

Egon P Hassel www.egonsthermosite.eu University Rostock, Germany

Technical Thermodynamics

Section 1.3: Further reading

There are numerous very excellent books on the market that you can easily
find for yourself. However, be sure to get a book about engineering
thermodynamics aka technical thermodynamics because e.g. chemical
thermodynamics or thermodynamics of physics differs very much to engineering
thermodynamics in nomenclature and in scope. Here are some good books as
examples:

Technische Thermodynamik and Technical Thermodynamics, A. Leipertz,

in Deutsch und Englisch, German and English, to order at Lehrstuhl fr

Technische Thermodynamik, Universitt Erlangen-Nrnberg, Germany.

Moran, Shapiro, fundamentals of engineering thermodynamics, excellent

book with many numerical explicit and modern examples.

VanWylen, Sonntag, fundamentals of classical thermodynamics, former

international standard book.

Schaums series.

And many more ...

Section 1.4: Examples of applications of engineering thermodynamics

Technical thermodynamics plays an important role in e.g.:

Combustion engines

Gas-Turbines, Steam-Turbines,

Pumps and compressors

Fossil/nuclear-fueled power plants

Propulsions for planes and rockets

Combustion systems

Cooling process, gas separation and liquefaction

Heating, ventilation, air conditioner, HVAC

Vapor compression and absorption in refrigerators

Egon P Hassel www.egonsthermosite.eu University Rostock, Germany

Heat pumps

Cooling of electronic components

Alternative energy systems

Fuel cells

Thermoelectronic devices

Magneto-hydrodynamic gadgets

Solar-powered heaters, refrigerators and powerplants

Geothermal systems

And much more .

In the next figure we see a very nice example of the importance of

thermodynamics (and heat transfer), shown are the basic components of a gas
turbine engine which has the purpose to generate as much thrust as possible.

From the left side we see an air flow into the turbine, it is compressed, mixed
with fuel in the combustion chambers, the hot and high pressured exhaust gases
Egon P Hassel www.egonsthermosite.eu University Rostock, Germany

Technical Thermodynamics

drive the turbine, which is mechanically coupled to the compressor, and the
exhaust gases leave the turbine on the right hand side delivering the thrust. The
limitation of the thermal efficiency today are given by the maximum temperature
the first rows of the turbine blades can stand.
Section 1.5: The five es of thermodynamics
Thermodynamics has to do with or is the science of the 5 es (five-e):

Energy: energy conversion, transformation, storage.

Entropy: only with entropy we can understand equilibrium, the time
arrow, and thermal efficiency.
Exergy: is the (technical) availability of work.
Economy: the products an engineer creates must be sold.
Environment: to minimize the effect of the (industrial)
#

techniques on environment is crucial for survival.

Thermodynamics is the basis of the science of heat energy, energy transport

and transformation of one form of energy into another. The topics below belong

to thermodynamics

Atmospheric thermodynamic

Air-conditioning of buildings
Egon P Hassel www.egonsthermosite.eu University Rostock, Germany

Many aspects of biological systems

Irreversible thermodynamics (= non-equilibrium thermodynamics)

Technical thermodynamics

Statistical thermodynamics

Classical thermodynamics

The Technical Thermodynamics aka Engineering Thermodynamics is a

branch of Classical thermodynamics''

in contrast to Statistical

Thermodynamics. Classical thermodynamics deals with systems in

(thermodynamical) equilibrium and these always include a great number of
atoms and molecules (in the order of 1023 molecules). And additionally material is
treated as continuum. To say it in other words, in technical thermodynamics exist
no molecules, all matter is continuous.

Egon P Hassel www.egonsthermosite.eu University Rostock, Germany