Thermofluids module (ME32001)

You will build on the foundations that you learn in EG21006 Fluid Mechanics. This will develop and expand your understanding of the main principles of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, and their applications.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• learn the basic principles of the conservation laws, such as mass, momentum, and energy. You will learn to apply them to practical engineering problems
• learn the form of the fundamental equations of motion that apply to fluid systems
• learn the main dimensionless numbers, the basis of dimensional analysis and similarity. You will also learn about its application to the correlation of experimental data
• learn the factors affecting pump performance and the way in which pump and pipe systems can be matched
• learn the fundamentals of fuel combustion, air compressors, refrigeration, and power gas-turbines

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• describe the physical behaviour and the different states of fluid flow
• appreciate the relevance of the fundamental equations of fluid mechanics. You will be able to appreciate them in the solution to practical engineering problems
• appreciate the role of dimensional analysis in the design process
• understand appropriate pumping system selection
• understand the use of the 1st and 2nd law principles. This will be in the analysis of combustion, air compressors, refrigeration, and power gas turbines
• carry out the calculations necessary for the solution of practical problems associated with:
  • the conservation laws
  • dimensional analysis
  • pump selection
  • fuel combustion
  • air compressors
  • refrigeration
  • power gas turbines

Assignments / assessment

• coursework 1 (10%)
  • laboratory-based
  • based on the experiments of fluid volume flow rate measurements
• coursework 2 (10%)
  • laboratory-based
  • based on the experiments of refrigerator
• formal written exam (80%)

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
• tutorials
• practical sessions