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Unit outline_

MECH8260: Thermal Engineering 2

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit aims to develop an understanding of: 1) The principles of thermodynamics- energy, entropy and exergy balances- applied to pure substances, mixtures and combustion and the application of these principles to engineering processes, power and refrigeration systems. 2) The principles of heat transfer- conductive, convective, radiative heat transfer- in the context of a variety of physical situations and the application of these principles in order to design and size engineering equipment and analyse engineering processes. Course content includes: 1) Thermodynamics- properties of matter, energy, entropy and exergy balances for closed and steady state flow systems, mixtures, mixing and separation, psychrometry and air-conditioning and combustion- stoichiometry, first and second law analysis of reacting systems. 2) Heat Transfer- conduction, thermal circuits, general conduction equation, conduction through cylindrical bodies and fins, heat exchangers, transient conduction including analytic solutions, forced convection and natural convection, boiling and radiation- spectrum, intensity, surface radiative properties, environmental radiation, solar radiation. At the end of this unit students will be able to: 1) Thermodynamics- apply the principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer to engineering situations; have the ability to tackle and solve a range of problems involving thermodynamic cycles, devices such as compressors and turbines, mixtures, air conditioning, combustion. 2) Heat Transfer- have the ability to tackle and solve a range of heat transfer problems including heat exchangers, cooling by fluids, quenching, insulation and solar radiation.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
MECH9260
Assumed knowledge
? 

Fundamentals of thermodynamics are needed to begin this more advanced course

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Michael Kirkpatrick, michael.kirkpatrick@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Michael Kirkpatrick, michael.kirkpatrick@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Final exam
Open book exam
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial quiz Thermodynamics quiz 1
Paper quiz
10% Week 03 ~35 - 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Thermodynamics quiz 2
Paper quiz
10% Week 06 ~35 - 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Tutorial quiz Heat transfer quiz 1
Paper quiz
10% Week 09 ~35 - 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial quiz Heat transfer quiz 2
Paper quiz
10% Week 12 ~35 - 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5
Small continuous assessment Weekly Assignments
Submit your own solutions to the week's homework and tutorial problems.
20% Weekly 8 - 10 pages of working
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

Weekly Assignments: Submit your own handwritten solutions for the week’s tutorial and homework questions. These are due at 11:59pm each Sunday.

Four quizzes: Quiz questions will test your understanding of the material covered in the pre-recorded videos, lecture worked examples, tutorials and homework problems. Questions will be of similar difficulty to the lecture worked examples, tutorial and homework problems.

Final exam: Exam questions will test your understanding of the material covered in the pre-recorded videos, lecture worked examples, tutorials and homework problems. Questions will be of similar difficulty to the lecture worked examples, tutorial and homework problems.

Procedures for students who have an approved application for special consideration

Quizzes: There are no replacement quizzes. If a student misses a quiz and is granted special consideration, the marks for the remaining quizzes and final exam (not labs and weekly assignments) will be reweighted.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS: These assignments are designed to help students to stay on track with the material and are only worth ~1.5% each. As such, late submissions will not be accepted.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 T1 Review: Properties, energy, entropy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 T2 Exergy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 T3 Mixtures Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 T4 Air conditioning and Psychrometry Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 T5 Combustion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 T6 Power cycles Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 H1 Steady state conduction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 H2 Transient conduction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 H3 Heat exchangers Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 H4 Forced convection Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 H5 Natural convection Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 H6 Radiation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 H7 Environmental Radiation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Weekly Study the pre-recorded video material and associated sections of textbook. Create your own summary of each week's material. This should be done before the live lecture. 2 - 3 hours per week. Independent study (30 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Work through lecture worked examples and tutorial problems yourself. 2 - 3 hours per week. Independent study (30 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Complete homework problems. 2 - 3 hours per week. Independent study (30 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Pre-recorded videos: Material will be presented with an emphasis on giving students a sound understanding of concepts. It is essential that you study these videos and read associated sections of the textbook before attending the live classes.

Lectures: These sessions will focus on working through one or two example problems that illustrate application of material and analysis methods presented in the pre-recorded videos. Students will be encouraged to assist in formulating the solutions and are strongly encouraged to attend the class.

Tutorials: Tutors will work through separate tutorial problems with the class. They will use these problems as a vehicle to reinforce the theory and problem solving techniques required for this course. Students will be encouraged to assist in formulating the solutions and are strongly encouraged to attend the class.

Independent Study: Study the pre-recorded videos and read through associated sections of the textbook. Work through the tutorial problems yourself after the tutorial. Do the week’s homework problems. Your solutions to the week’s tutorial and homework problems are to be submitted as the weekly assignment. These assignments are intended to help you stay on track.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Cengel & Boles, Thermodynamics - An Engineering Approach (5th or later). McGraw Hill.

Bergman, Lavine, Incropera & De Witt, Fundamentals of Heat & Mass Transfer (6th or later). John Wiley & Sons.

 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Develop an understanding of the principles of thermodynamics including properties of matter, energy, entropy, exergy, 1st and 2nd law analysis, mixtures, chemically reacting systems.
  • LO2. Apply the principles of thermodynamics to real engineering situations including thermodynamic cycles, air conditioning, combustion and mixing and separation of mixtures.
  • LO3. Develop an understanding of the principles of heat transfer including steady and transient conduction, forced and natural convection, and radiation.
  • LO4. Apply the principles of heat transfer to a variety of real engineering situations.
  • LO5. Predict heat transfer rates and be able to design and size heat transfer equipment such as heat exchangers in order to achieve required heat transfer rates.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Removed online labs. They were not providing a useful learning experience.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.