Course detail

Thermomechanics

FSI-6TTAcad. year: 2026/2027

The course covers the following topics: Basic thermodynamic state variables. The equation of state for an ideal gas. Mixtures of ideal gases. The First Law of Thermodynamics – heat, work, internal energy, and enthalpy. The Second Law of Thermodynamics and entropy. Reversible and irreversible gas processes. Thermodynamics of vapours; steam tables and thermodynamic diagrams. The Clausius–Clapeyron equation. Thermodynamic processes in vapours. Fuel combustion; calorific value and heat of combustion. Stoichiometric combustion equations, the stoichiometric ratio, and the excess air coefficient. Thermodynamics of moist air – key properties, tables, and diagrams. Isobaric air-conditioning processes and evaporation from a free surface. Thermodynamics of gas and vapour flow; adiabatic flow through nozzles. Cycles of gas and steam heat engines. Compressors. Refrigeration and heat pump cycles. Zero-carbon technologies and renewable energy sources. Fundamentals of heat transfer. Steady-state heat conduction. Convective heat transfer and similarity theory. Overall heat transfer and heat exchangers. Radiative heat transfer and mutual radiation between surfaces.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Josef Štětina, Ph.D.

Department

Energy Institute (EÚ)

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of mathematics and physics.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

A written exam that includes computer-based tests. Emphasis is placed on theory and on solving practical problems. Depending on the results of the written part, the examination may also include an oral section verifying the knowledge demonstrated in the written exam. The final grade also includes assessment from the tutorials, accounting for 30%.

Attendance in tutorials is monitored; in the case of an excused absence, students are required to complete substitute assignments. Knowledge from the tutorials is assessed through problem-solving tests, with the possibility of one retake. Project work may also be included.

Aims

The course objective is for students to acquire competency to carry out technical computation in the area of thermodynamics and heat transfer. Students will apply theoretical knowledge to machinery and technological fields.


Students will acquire skills to carry out technical computation in the area of thermodynamics and heat transfer: Computation of heat engines and cooling systems. Heat balance of material and machine systems, in gases, vapors, buildings and technological processes.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ÇENGEL, Yunus A. a Michael A. BOLES. Thermodynamics an engineering approach. 8. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2015, 1115 s. ISBN 978-0-07-339817-4. (EN)
INCROPERA, Frank, David DEWITT, Theodore BERGMAN a Adrienne LAVINE. Principles of heat and mass transfer. 7th ed., international student version. Singapore: John Wiley, c2013, xxiii, 1048 s. ISBN 978-0-470-64615-1. (EN)
PAVELEK, Milan. Termomechanika. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM, 2011, 192 s. : il. ; 30 cm + diagramy ([3] složené l.). ISBN 978-80-214-4300-6. (CS)
JAROŠ, Michal a Josef ŠTĚTINA. Termomechanika: sbírka příkladů. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM, 2020. ISBN 978-80-214-5885-7. (CS)

Recommended reading

Borgnakke, C. Fundamentals of thermodynamics. 7th ed. International student version, SI version. Hoboken : Wiley, 2009. (EN)
Kreith, F., Bohn, M. S.: Principles of heat transfer. 6th ed., Brooks/Cole, 2001. (EN)
Latif M. Jiji: Heat Transfer Essentials. Begell House; 2 edition, 2002. (EN)
Moran, M. J.: Fundamentals of engineering thermodynamics. 7th ed. Hoboken: Wiley, 2011. (EN)
SUKUMAR Pati Sadhu Singh. Thermal Engineering, 2018 ,Pearson ISBN: 9789353063931 (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-ENE-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-KSI-P Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
  • Programme B-MET-P Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme B-VTE-P Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme B-ZSI-P Bachelor's

    specialization STI , 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Josef Štětina, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Basic terms. Basic laws and equations of state for an ideal gas. Heat capacity.
  2. Mixtures of ideal gases, Dalton’s Law, equations of state for mixtures and their components.
  3. The First Law of Thermodynamics and its two mathematical forms. Heat, volume and technical work, internal energy, enthalpy. The First Law of Thermodynamics for an open system and its equations.
  4. Reversible processes in ideal gases, changes of quantities of state, heat calculation, calculations of internal energy, enthalpy, of volume and technical work, p-v diagrams.
    Heat cycles, thermal efficiency, work. The Carnot cycle. The Second Law of Thermodynamics, entropy and general equations for entropy changes. Reversible processes and the Carnot cycle in a T-s diagram. The reversed and irreversible Carnot cycle. Irreversible processes in technical practice.
  5. The cycles of heat steam engines. Combustion engines, gas turbines.  Van der Waals equations of state for real gases. Hydrogen.
  6. The thermodynamics of vapour, p-v, T-s and h-s diagrams and vapour tables. The Clausius-Clapeyron Equation. Thermodynamic processes in vapours, changes in quantities of state, heat calculation, calculations of internal energy, enthalpy, of volume and technical work.
  7. The cycles of heat steam engines. The Rankin-Clausius cycle. The cycles of cooling devices and heat pumps. Zero-carbon technologies and renewable energy sources. Combustion of fuels. Calorific value, heat of combustion. Stoichiometric combustion equations. Stoichiometric ratio, excess air coefficient.
  8. Thermodynamics of humid/atmospheric air. The definition of humidity and enthalpy of humid air, the enthalpy-relative humidity diagram. Cooling, heating, mixing and increasing the humidity of air, adiabatic evaporation from a free surface. Psychrometers.
  9. Continuity and Bernoulli’s equations. The Prandtl tube, the speed of sound, the Mach number. Isentropic flow of an ideal gas and steam through a narrowing opening and the Laval nozzle and their calculation. The Laval nozzle with various input conditions and the effect of back pressure. Reaction engines
  10. Heat transfer by conduction. 3D differential equations for stationary and transient heat conduction with an internal source using Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates. Heat and temperature conductivity. Stationary heat conduction through a planar and cylindrical single- and multiple-layer wall.
  11. Heat transfer by convection. The 3D Fourier-Kirchoff’s equation, The Navier-Stokes equation, boundary conditions. The Similarity Theory in heat convection. Derivation of the criteria of similarity. Criterion equations for natural and forced convection.
  12. Stationary overall heat transfer through a planar or cylindrical single- or multiple-layer wall. Heat exchangers, the mean temperature logarithmic gradient, algorithms for calculation.
  13. Heat transfer by radiation. The basic laws (Kirchhoff’s First and Second Law, Planck’s Law, the Stefan-Boltzman Law, Wien’s Law). Radiation between two parallel walls and between mutually surrounding surfaces.

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Josef Štětina, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. State quantities of ideal gas and ideal gas mixture. Calorimetric balance calculations. Reversible changes of ideal gas - state variables, heat, work, internal energy changes, entropy.
  2. Carnot cycle, thermal efficiency, entropy changes. I. Open system law (control volume method)
  3. Compressors cycles of internal combustion engines and gas turbines.
  4. Thermodynamic processes in vapours - state variables, heat, work, internal energy changes, entropy.
  5. Rankine-Clausius cycle, thermal power plant cycles including nuclear. Zero-carbon technologies and renewable energy sources.
  6. Demonstration of the operation and functioning of a heat pump and cooling device.
  7. Basic parameters of moist air and its treatment (heating, cooling, mixing, humidification).
  8. Adiabatic flow through a tapered orifice or Laval nozzle. Design of its main dimensions.
  9. Cycles of combustion turbines, jet and rocket engines.
  10. Stationary heat conduction through planar and cylindrical walls, single or compound. Stationary heat transfer - heat transfer coefficient, heat flux
  11. Heat transfer coefficient by convection and heat flux by convection.
  12. Basic calculation of a heat exchanger. Radiation between surrounding surfaces.
  13. Credit test
This course was created by the project Akcelerace zelených dovedností a udržitelnosti na VUT v Brně with registration number NPO_VUT_MSMT-2143/2024-5.