About This Course
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1: Enroll in the course
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Freemium vs Premium:
This is a Freemium (=completely self-paced) version of the course. As such it is continuously open. There is no "real-life" instructor involved.
All the learning reosurces can be used for free after registration. It is possible to, for a fee, receive a "Certificate of Completion of the Course through Automatically Corrected Assignments".
Course Abstract:
The course reviews the essential knowledge in thermodynamics expected from mechanical or energy engineers. It reminds the two main laws of thermodynamics (First and Second Laws) applied to both closed and open systems, together with the major relationships between state functions including Gibbs equation. It then provides basic elements of gas dynamics with the distinction between subsonic and supersonic flows as well as compressor and turbine machine efficiencies (isentropic, polytropic and isothermal).
A comprehensive documentation of state equations for gaseous and liquid substances is presented as well as the basic relations for mixtures of gases including Dalton’s Law. A general approach of mixtures of gases and condensable substance provides the fundamentals of psychrometry with important notions like dew point and thermodynamic process representations in Mollier diagram.
The last parts include the development of the exergy balance for energy systems in a way that shows the symmetry between energy and exergy balances and their corresponding terms together with the performance indicators, effectiveness for First law analysis and exergy efficiency for combined First and Second Law analyses. Fuel energy values (higher and lower heating values) as well as fuel exergy value are introduced. Finally major reversible and real cycles like Rankine and Brayton cycles are described in both power and cooling applications.
Course Uniqueness:
Although there are many books and courses on thermodynamics, this course provides a selection of key elements of knowledge for engineers with a particular care to use a coherent nomenclature that avoids the too often confusion of units. It highlights the importance of the fundamental Laws and provides a unique combination of First and Second Laws together with Gibbs equation in original sets combining the three equations for both closed and open systems. Special care is also put on defining energy and exergy terms in symmetry to facilitate the comprehension of the exergy theory. Whenever possible graphical representations are used to explain phenomena like the Fanno curves for compressible flows, the basic Mollier diagram for elementary psychrometry, the van’t Hoff box for explaining the fuel exergy values or cartoon types of 3D graphs for exergy. The course is based on two books in both English or French with one book for theory and one book for solved problem with the possibility on demand to get an Excel file of solutions.
Course Societal Relevance:
Energy is a major challenge of our societies with strong needs to alleviate environmental impacts both at the local and global levels. Furthermore, geopolitical challenges for the supply of resources are recognized and the need for innovative solutions is increasing like rarely before. Thermodynamics introduces the theoretical pillars needed to evaluate and coherently rank competing concepts, provide coherent assessments while in the meantime preventing costly reinvention of non-feasible perpetual motion machines. Thermodynamics can guide policy makers on the regulatory side of societal activities. Above all thermodynamics helps engineers to design better and more sustainable systems and infrastructure.
Course Evaluation and Grading Criteria:
The ("freemium") course evaluation is done through the automatically corrected questions in each Content Module of the course.
The grading criteria of each Content Module is "Pass/Fail".
To receive a "Pass" of the full course each one of the Content Modules have to be successfully completed.
Course Level as per Qualification Framework:
This course corresponds to the European Qualification Framework EQF 6
Estimated Learning hours:
This course corresponds to 5 SMCTS-credits ("Stackable Master Credit Transfer System), which translates into 137.5 Estimated Learning Hours (ELH).
Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILO):
Knowledge:
K1: Explain the concept of energy, and its usage in the modern world. (corresponds to EQF-K= yy)
K2: Identify the thermodynamic principles for applications in different energy systems. (corresponds to EQF-K= yy)
Skills:
S1: Differentiate thermodynamic principles for assessing a thermal energy system. (corresponds to EQF-S= yy)
S2: Perform thermodynamic analysis for a given thermal energy system. (corresponds to EQF-S= yy)
Responsibility and Autonomy:
RA1: Take responsibility for your own learning, by monitoring your progress, being aware of your own limitations, and setting clear goals for your improvement. (corresponds to EQF-RA= yy)
RA2: Behave responsibly in using resources. (corresponds to EQF-RA= yy)
Course Structure:
This introduction course to thermodynamics consists of two parts. Part 1 is "free-ware", self-paced, open and continuously available with a set of Content Modules. An add on (Part 2 of the course, identiified as "premium") is directed towards instructor-led discussions, workshops and assignments. This part is offered only to learners registered in an organization associated with EEDA
The Part 1 ("freemium" version) has 10 Content Modules for efficient learning of the subject, all including a set of automatically corrected questions and exercises. It has furthermore a few discussion sessions in which the instructor gives his perspective on some general, but important, open-ended questions and discusses solutions to a few of the exercises.
Suggested study pace:
This "freemium" course contains 10 Content Modules, each one with a set of questions and exercises. For accumulating the knowledge, answer all the various questions, perform the exercises and achieving the Intended Learning Outcomes of each one of the Content Modules in a smooth learning journey, the learner is recommended to, if the learning period is more than 10 weeks, finish one module per week.
How Will This Course Broaden My Skills and Help My Career?
Thermodynamics is the basis for energy. It is highly fundamental and needs some mathematical skills. However, properly explained, as done in this course, the basics of thermodynamics is highly simplified, can be enjoyed and then serve to clearly describe, explain and identify all existing energy cycles, and putting these in relation to each other. The learner will at the end of the course have the tools needed to properly understand various thermodynamic cycles in all energy systems, thus being able to put these into both a technical aspect but more specifically also into a societal approach for the energy challenges humanity stands in front of in a much needed circular economy for survivability.
The skills accumulated will thus serve the learner to advance in the energy sector, including to convince managers and others to accommodate the most appropriate energy solutions for the tasks at hand.
Prerequisites
To have a successful individual learning journey it is recommended that the learner has a background corresponding to the first year of university engineering studies.
Base of the Course:
The material is based upon a course given by Prof em Daniel Favrat during more than 15 years at the Ecole Polytéchnique de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, with a corresponding text book. At EPFL the course corresponded to nominally 4 ECTS. Experience has however shown that, in order for the learner to accumulate all the knowledge, solve all the exercises etc a 5 credit course is more realistic.
Certificates and Credits
Any learner who graduates from the "freemium" version of the course after successful completion of all the automatically corrected questions and exercises can print an EEDA certificate of achievement.
Learners who are registered at an organization offering this course in an instructor-led fashion need to consider any special conditions this organization will have for issuing any certificates or credits from that organization.
Course Staff
Prof em Dr Daniel Favrat
Dr Daniel Favrat is professor emeritus at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and former director of EPFL Energy Center. Previously he was director of the Industrial Energy Systems Laboratory of EPFL for 25 years, director of EPFL Institute of energy sciences for 6 years and of EPFL mechanical engineering institute for 4 years. He was also member of the Swiss Science Council and of the steering committee of its technology assessment group for 4 years.
At EPFL, he initiated the “energyscope.ch” platform with a calculator of scenarios for the Swiss energy transition by 2050. For 10 years he was a member of CORE, the committee advising the Swiss government on energy research and demonstration. He was the president of the program committee of the 4th World Engineering Convention in Geneva specifically dealing with Energy.
In the course of his career he spent sabbatical leaves in major universities (MIT, TU Muenchen, University of Tokyo, Ecole des Mines de Paris). He was also affiliated professor at KTH. Prior to joining EPFL, he worked for 10 years in industrial energy research centers in Canada and Switzerland. His research includes thermodynamic and systemic analyses in what is called environomics (a contraction of energy, environment and economics) for a more efficient design of integrated technologies based on both fossil and renewable energies. He also contributes to the design of advanced equipment for a more rational use of energy including heat pumps, fuel cells, solar power plants and district heating and cooling networks.
Prof em Favrat is presently vice-chairman of the energy committee of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), a member of the editorial board of Energy: the international Journal. He is also a member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences and of the French National Academy of Technologies. He is cofounder of ExerGo.ch, a startup company developing a revolutionary district heating and cooling system and a fellow of Presans.com a leading open innovation consulting firm located in Paris.
He is co-author of several books and patents in the field of thermodynamics and energy as well as of numerous research papers. In the last years he presented invited conference keynotes in Beijing, Melbourne, London, Copenhagen, Vesteras (Sweden) on subjects dealing with energy efficiency, sustainability, energy storage and district energy systems.
Dr. Indrani Kularathne
Dr. Indrani Kularathne is a senior lecturer of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. She has been serving to the Department for about 23 years while involving in many extra-curricular activities. She is also an associate member of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka.
In this course Dr Kularathne is involved as implementer of the course, and a reviewer about the structure and course content.
Presently she is the course coordinator of the Applied Thermal Engineering course of the MSc in Energy for Circular Economy which is offered by the Open University of Sri Lanka via online platform.
In the course of her career, she has involved in many research projects in the areas of design and simulation, alternative fuels, renewable energy, etc. and published many research papers in the field of energy.
Dr. Indrani Kularathne has participated in many local and international workshops and conferences in energy sector under the EUSL Energy Project and “Training Hub for Renewable Energy Technologies in Sri Lanka” Project.
Prof em Torsten Fransson
Torsten Fransson is Professor Emeritus in Heat and Power Technology at KTH, Stockholm, Sweden.
In this course Dr Fransson is involved only as an overall organizer of the course, and a reviewer about the structure, not related to the course content.
Dr Fransson holds a Ph D in numerical modelling of unsteady flow in turbomachines from EPF-Lausanne in 1986. He has been a Post-Doctoral researcher at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, USA. He is former Head of Department of Energy Technology, the Energy Center as well as the School of Energy and Environmental Technology at KTH. He is a former Educational Director of the “InnoEnergy Knowledge and Innovation Center” (KIC-InnoEnergy) of the “European Institute of Innovation and Technology” (EIT).
Dr Fransson has been a Guest Professor at EPFL, Visiting Professor at Duke University and Florida State University, and a Guest Researcher at GE Aircraft Engines, Cincinnati, USA. He has hold numerous international positions in science and engineering, among these the Board of Directors of the ASME International Gas Turbine Institute, the Swedish TURBOPOWER Research Center, the Chair of the Supervisory Board of ECATA (“European Consortium of Advanced Training in Aeronautics”), the European Technical Program Chair for the yearly “ASME Turbo Cogen-Conferences” for 8 conferences.
Prof Fransson has received the “Chevalier de L’Ordre National du Mérite” in France, and the ASME Dedicated Service Award in the US. He is a Fellow of ASME, member of the Royal Physiographic Society and the Swedish Royal Engineering Academy (Member Number 1'439).
Dr Fransson’s research interests spans mainly over aerodynamics and aeroelasticity in turbomachines He has authored and co-authored more than 300 scientific papers, and is a four-time Best Paper of The Year recipient in the ASME International Gas Turbine.
Dr Fransson has over the years worked tirelessly towards introducing modern digital technology into energy education. He has started several international collaboration projects in the area. As part of these efforts he has been awarded an International Engineering Educator Honoris Causa by the International Society for Engineering Education, and a Dr Honoris Causa by the Open University in Sri Lanka.
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