This course caters, mainly, to Engineers, Technicians and Facilities Managers who are not intimately familiar with thermodynamics principles and practices. Through this workshop, attendees are expected to learn or refresh fundamental principles and concepts of thermodynamics in a simple, easy to understand, format; catalyzed by live discussion on the topic in class. This workshop/course illustrates the application of thermodynamic principles in practical industrial, commercial and residential applications. 

This course demonstrates how to analyze and solve various types of practical thermodynamic problems through multiple case studies. In this program, laws, equations, graphs, charts, tables and diagrams, pertaining to various thermodynamics concepts, are covered and utilized in the analysis and solution of the case study problems. A detailed study for psychrometry, psychrometric chart and their role in HVAC analyses is undertaken. This seminar is themed after Prof. Rauf’s book titled “Thermodynamics Made Simple.” The audience is engaged through Q&A, classwork, and ad hoc discussions pertaining to the topic.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the concept of heat energy and its correspondence with work and other forms of energy in the thermodynamics realm.

2. Understand the concept of specific heat and its role in calculation of heat associated with change of temperature in thermodynamic systems.

3. Understand conversion of energy from fuel form to heat, from heat to steam, from steam to work, and work to electricity – illustrated through a comprehensive, multistage, case study.

4. Learn about the concepts of enthalpy, entropy, internal energy, work, and power.

5. Understand the difference between sensible and latent heats, and their role in the change of phases of substances. 

6. Gain understanding about the role of saturated and superheated steam tables in thermodynamics system analysis and determination of the phase of water. 

7. Understand the practical significance and the difference between various thermodynamic processes, i.e. isobaric, isenthalpic, isentropic, adiabatic, isochoric, isometric, isothermal, etc.

8. Learn about Mollier’s diagram, the psychrometric chart and their applications in design and optimal operation of HVAC Systems. 

9. Understand the refrigeration cycle and get insight into refrigeration process through review of pressure-enthalpy performance of DuPont® 134a refrigerant. 

10. Get an appreciation of energy conservation and process optimization value offered by direct digital, or automated, control of HVAC Systems. Learn about the typical architecture of automated HVAC systems.