ENGR 321

Engineering Thermodynamics

Summer 2005

OBJECTIVE: To apply the 1st and 2nd Laws of Thermodynamics to problems from science and engineering. At the end of this course, each student should be able to:

Quickly convert engineering units involving dimensions of length, mass, temperature, and time.
Use equations of state and thermodynamic diagrams and tables to analyze PVT behavior of fluids.
Apply control volumes for material and energy balances to open and closed systems.
Use mathematical relationships to calculate thermodynamic properties from PVT information.
Analyze thermodynamic cycles, such as the Carnot, Diesel, Otto, power and refrigeration cycles.

Instructor
Textbook
Course Policies
Schedule
Assignment List
Lecture Notes
ChE Department Page
Related Web Links

Instructor

Randel M. Price
Visiting Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
Anderson Hall 228
Phone: 915-5350
Fax: 915-7023
Email: cmprice@olemiss.edu

Office Hourse T.B.A.

Textbook

Sonntag, R.E., C. Borgnakke, and G.J. van Wylen, Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (6th Edition), John Wiley, 2003.

Old tests and other reference materials may be placed in a folder in the ChE Office (134 Anderson). It will live on the top shelf opposite the entrance of the copier room.

Students are encouraged to consult other texts for alternative explanations and examples. If you find something good, please share the title with your classmates and me. Among others, the Ole Miss library can supply:

Levenspiel, O. Understanding Engineering Thermodynamics, Prentice Hall, 1996. UM Library Call Number TJ265 .L395
Smith, J.M., H.C. van Ness, Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, McGraw-Hill. The 5th edition is current. The library has the 3rd and 4th editions. UM Library Call Number TP149 .S582

Texts from related courses -- especially chemistry, physics, and material balance and stoichiometry -- may also prove useful.

Notes on the Text

Please inform me of any errors or discrepancies in your text. I'll post them here to avoid future problems.

Class Policies

Attendance

Student attendance is not normally factored into grades -- it typically isn't necessary. Students are expected to keep up with the material as it is presented and submit assignments on time; most students find this difficult without regular class attendance.

You should be aware that Departmental policy allows students missing more than 6 class hours to be penalized by a letter grade or more. I reserve the right to invoke this policy if it applies.

Collaboration

Students are encouraged to work together to understand course material. You are allowed to cooperate on all "regular" homework problems, unless specifically requested not to do so. All students must turn in individual assignments. Penalties will be imposed if there is evidence that students did not individually prepare their work. "Individual" means "characterized by unique qualities" -- so make sure your papers meet the definition; especially on computer assignments!

Some "design" homework assignments will be assigned to individuals or small groups. In these cases, please do not collaborate outside your group.

Collaboration is not permitted on any exam. All exams are subject to the Engineering School Honor Code.

Exams

Current plans are to have four quizzes, equally spaced throughout the term. A quiz will typically consist of one or two problems and be worth 50 points.

In addition, there may be one or more sets of "special problems", equivalent to a take-home test. If special problems are used, there will be one drop test grade.

All regular exams will be open-book, open-note. The final examination will be open-book only -- notes will not be permitted. "Preparation" of textbooks is acceptable, as long as it is kept to a reasonable level (i.e. inserted pages are not acceptable, marginal notes are fine).

No make-up exams will be given without advance arrangements (before the day of the exam).

Collaboration is not permitted on any exam. All exams are subject to the Engineering School Honor Code.

I like to use exam problems to let students prove they know how to assemble the skills they've been exercising with the homework. This means that the tests will not be like the homework, so you needn't inform me of the difference.

Test problems may be "backwards" (if homework has been "given A, find B"; I like to do "given B, find A" on tests), involve unfamiliar systems, or require you to combine material from different portions of the course into a single solution.

Exam Tips

If you want to optimize your exam score, keep in mind that if I don't understand what you're doing, I am unlikely to give you the benefit of any doubt, and partial credit will suffer. Keep in mind that I am usually matching your paper against a solution of my own, so you want the similarities to jump out at me while any differences lurk in the outer darkness.

With this in mind, be sure to

ALWAYS provide a key to the symbols you are using. A drawing of the system with all the variables labeled is a good way to do this. Just because you are using the same symbols I've been using in class, don't assume I'll know what you're doing. If you have set things up even slightly differently, it could cause problems when I match your work to the key.
Mark your answers so that I can find them and know that you meant them to be an answer. You may have found the right number, but you need to make sure that I know that you know that it is the number you were supposed to get.
Answer all the questions. If there are "discussion" questions asked, be sure and try to put something down. Sometimes, just making that effort can lead to a few points.
Follow the directions. If I specifically ask for something like an honor code statement or a cover sheet, be sure and include it. I've no qualms about penalizing you a few points for failure to follow instructions.
Don't worry about treating me like the village idiot -- take my hand and lead me through your calculation. If you're bringing a number forward from a previous calculation or page, it can't hurt to label it ("flow rate from previous page", "temperature from energy balance", etc.). Try to keep things organized. When it comes to partial credit, I get stingy when I get confused.
Support your answers. Most of the time, when you're asked a question as part of a problem, you need to show some calculation or numbers to justify your response. I usually try to use the words "describe" or "qualitative" when all I expect is words.

Grading

Grades will be determined by student performance on graded homework assignments, examinations, and a comprehensive final examination. The components of the grade will be weighted so that:

Quizzes and "Special Problems" (70%)
Final (30%)
Homework

Grades are assigned based on the composite score weighted as described. The intended grade distribution is: 90-100 "A", 75-90 "B", 60-75 "C", 50-60 "D", 0-50 "F". If the class average ("ghosts" not included) is significantly below 60, the scale MIGHT be adjusted downward to reflect overall class performance and natural breaks in the score distribution. The break lines will NOT be adjusted upward.

Be aware that performance on the final is very important, and that qualitative weight is given to work at the end of the term over that at the beginning.

Homework

The best way to acquire the skills this course seeks to teach is practice. Homework assignments are the best opportunity to do so. Students are encouraged to work as many homework problems as they can in order to improve their knowledge.

During the summer, homework will be due and discussed at the beginning of the next class period.

Late Assignments

No assignments will be accepted late unless arrangements were made before the due date. If a student is to be out of town, the instructor must be notified in advance. In case of illness, the instructor should be notified before the assignment becomes late, either by phone (662)915-5350 or email.

Makeup exams will only be given under extraordinary circumstances, and only if arrangements are made before the exam period.

Extra Credit

You may earn "extra credit" or "bonus" points. These are added to your point totals but don't add to the "possible" points. Your options are:

Participate in professional development activities (plant trips, non-required technical lectures, etc.) for credit applicable to your final exam total. I plan to award 2 pts. for the first two acceptable (approved in advance) events and one point thereafter. I also reserve the right to impose an upper limit on the number of points awarded to any individual. Most "technical" events sponsored by student professional societies are acceptable, but should be cleared in advance if you want the credit. To claim the credit, you should submit a paragraph describing the event, and answering the questions: What did you learn? How will it help your development as an engineer?

Lecture Notes

Outlines of the following lectures are available on the web. Please let me know if you have problems downloading or viewing these.