Technical Physics A - L

The course aims to provide knowledge of:

• thermodynamics, in its fundamental theoretical aspects and in the applications to the main plant components, direct and inverse thermodynamic cycles, and air conditioning systems;

• the three fundamental heat transfer mechanisms (conduction, convection, radiation), their interactions, and the models for describing heat transfer in simple geometries and in heat exchangers.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• apply mass, energy, and entropy balances to closed and open systems;

• analyze and evaluate the efficiency of direct and inverse thermodynamic cycles;

• design basic thermotechnical systems and components (heat exchangers, air treatment systems, refrigeration cycles);

• solve problems of conduction, convection, and radiation in standard configurations.

Lessons and exercises are carried out in the classroom using teaching materials and courseware (slides, exercises, etc.) made available to students on the Studium platform at the beginning of and during the course. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. 

Applied Thermodynamics

1. BASIC CONCEPTS OF THERMODYNAMICS

Classical thermodynamics and energy; heat transfer; International System of Units; thermodynamic system: control mass and control volume; state and equilibrium; state postulate or Gibbs phase rule; zeroth law of thermodynamics; pressure, volume and temperature; transformation and cycles.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 0)

2. STATE PROPERTIES AND INTERACTIONS

Energy forms: internal, kinetic and potential energy; energy transfer by heat and work.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 1)

3. THERMODYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF PURE SUBSTANCES

Pure substances and physics of the phase-change processes of pure substances; compressed and saturated liquid; saturated vapour and superheated vapour; property diagrams for phase-change processes. The ideal-gas equation of state and other equations of state; deviation from ideal-gas behaviour.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 2)

4. MASS AND ENERGY ANALYSIS OF CLOSED AND OPEN SYSTEMS AND FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

Energy balance for closed systems; moving boundary work; specific heats at constant volume and at constant pressure. Definition of enthalpy. Mass and energy analysis of control volumes. The first law of thermodynamics for closed and open systems. Flow work and energy analysis of steady-flow systems and thermodynamic behaviour of steady-flow engineering devices.

(Lecture hours: 4, Exercise hours: 4)

5. THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS AND ENTROPY

Definition of thermal energy reservoirs; heat engines; refrigerators and heat pumps. The second law of thermodynamics: Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements. Reversible ad irreversible processes. The direct and reversed Carnot cycle. The Carnot principles; the thermodynamic temperature scale. Entropy, isentropic processes and property of diagrams involving entropy. Entropy change of liquids, solids and ideal gases. Entropy balance.

(Lecture hours: 4, Exercise hours: 4)

6. TECHNOLOGICAL COMPONENTS

Technological devices; isentropic efficiency of thermodynamic devices; energy, mass and entropy balances for thermodynamic components.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 3)

7. GAS POWER CYCLES

The Carnot gas cycle; air-standard assumptions; the Brayton-Joule cycle and deviation of actual gas-turbine cycles from idealized ones; the Brayton-Joule cycle with regeneration; basics of ideal jet-propulsion cycles and other engineering applications; basics of Otto and Diesel cycles.

(Lecture hours: 3, Exercise hours: 4)

8. DIRECT AND COMBINED STEAM CYCLES

The Carnot vapour cycle; the Rankine cycle and deviation of actual vapour power cycles from idealized ones; how to increase the efficiency of the Rankine cycle; the ideal reheat Rankine cycle; the ideal regenerative Rankine cycle; cogeneration and combined gas-vapour power cycles.

(Lecture hours: 4, Exercise hours: 6)

9. REFRIGERATION CYCLES

The reversed Carnot cycle; refrigerators and heat pump; ideal vapour-compression refrigeration cycle; actual vapour-compression refrigeration cycle.

(Lecture hours: 3, Exercise hours: 4)

10. GAS-VAPOUR MIXTURES AND AIR-CONDITIONING

Ideal- and real-gas mixtures and properties; dry and atmospheric air; the psychrometric chart; main air-conditioning processes.

(Lecture hours: 3, Exercise hours: 2)

HEAT TRANSFER

11. BASIC CONCEPTS OF HEAT TRANSFER

Heat transfer mechanisms: conduction, convection and radiation. Simultaneous heat transfer mechanisms.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 0)

12. HEAT CONDUCTION

The Fourier heat conduction equation; thermal conductivity; solution of steady one-dimensional heat conduction problems; thermal resistance concept and thermal resistance network; thermal contact resistance. Steady heat conduction in plane walls, cylinders ad spheres; multi-layered cylinders and spheres and critical radius of insulation.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 4)

13. EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FORCED CONVECTION AND NATURAL CONVECTION

Classification of fluid flows; non-dimensional parameters for the forced convection; parallel flow over flat planes; flow across cylinders and spheres; flow across tube banks; internal forced convection; laminar and turbulent flows in tubes; physical mechanism of natural convection; equation of motion.

(Lecture hours: 3, Exercise hours: 4)

14. RADIATIVE HEAT TRANSFER

Thermal radiation; blackbody radiation and laws; radiation intensity; radiative properties. Radiation heat transfer; the view factor and relations; black surfaces and diffuse, grey surfaces.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 3)

15. HEAT EXCHANGERS

Types of heat exchangers; the overall heat transfer coefficient; the fouling factor; analysis of heat exchangers; the log-mean temperature difference method; the effectiveness-NTU method.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 3)

16. COMBINED CONDUCTION-CONVECTION PROBLEMS

Heat transfer from finned surfaces; fin equation; fin efficiency and effectiveness. Transient heat conduction and lumped system analysis and Heisler diagram.

(Lecture hours: 2, Exercise hours: 1)

G. CESINI, G. LATINI, F. POLONARA, FISICA TECNICA, CITTÀ STUDI EDIZIONI (in Italian)

Y. A. ÇENGEL – Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer, McGraw-Hill

J. MORAN, H.N. SHAPIRO, B.R. MUNSON, D.P. DE WITT – Introduction to Thermal Systems Engineering: Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer, McGraw Hill

The evaluation is conducted through both a written and an oral examination. To qualify for the oral examination, students must pass the written test. Both the written and oral examinations assess the student's ability to discuss theoretical aspects of thermodynamics and heat transfer, as well as to solve practical problems and exercises. The written test includes both theoretical questions and exercises to be completed. If circumstances necessitate, the learning assessment can also be conducted online.

If the course is conducted in-person and for all students who attended the course (i.e., with a participation rate of at least 70%), two intermediate tests will be offered: one at the conclusion of the applied thermodynamics section and another at the end of the course. Passing both intermediate tests is equivalent to passing the written exam, and these students will then need to take the oral exam within the academic year. However, intermediate tests will not be offered if lessons are conducted remotely.

The following assessment criteria will be adopted: accuracy and completeness of the contents (as listed in the section “Course Program”), clarity and logical rigor in the exposition, ability to apply the principles to practical cases, and theorems and demonstrations required (as specified in the section “Frequently Asked Questions”).

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, students enrolled in CInAP can agree with the teacher on any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on educational objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP reference teacher (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) of the DIEEI (professors Antonella Di Stefano and Arturo Pagano).

- State postulate

- Real gases: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises 

- Ideal gases: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises through state diagrams

- Saturated mixtures: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises through tables and state diagrams

- Incompressible liquid: theoretical questions and analytical exercises through tables

- Heat and work: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- First Principle balances for closed and open systems: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- Second Principle balances for closed and open systems: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- Direct and inverse thermodynamic cycles, gas and steam: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- Regenerative heat exchanges for performance optimization of thermodynamic cycles: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- Psychrometry: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- Stationary conduction in one-dimensional geometries: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- External and internal forced convection and natural convection: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- Radiative behaviour of real bodies, the radiative models of the black and grey bodies: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- Radiative thermal exchanges within cavities consisting of black or grey bodies: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

- Heat exchangers and calculation and sizing methodologies: theoretical questions and analytical and/or graphical exercises

Theorems for which the demonstration is required during the oral examination:

• Expression of specific heats as a function of thermodynamic properties

• Equivalence of the Clausius and Kelvin–Planck statements

• Carnot theorems

• The thermodynamic temperature scale

• Clausius inequality

• Demonstration of the ε–NTU method for the design of heat exchangers

• General solution of the differential equation for fins with constant cross-section and constant thermal conductivity