Fisica Tecnica

The course aims to provide knowledge of thermodynamics, in its fundamental theoretical aspects and in the applications to the main plant components, direct andinverse thermodynamic cycles, and air conditioning systems. 

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);

Applied Thermodynamics

1. BASIC CONCEPTS OF THERMODYNAMICS

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

2. STATE PROPERTIES AND INTERACTIONS

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

3. THERMODYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF PURE SUBSTANCES

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

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 opensystems. Flow work and energy analysis of steady-flow systems and thermodynamic behaviour of steady-flow engineeringdevices.

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.

6. TECHNOLOGICAL COMPONENTS

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

7. GAS POWER CYCLES

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

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 increasethe efficiency of the Rankine cycle; the ideal reheat Rankine cycle; the ideal regenerative Rankine cycle; cogeneration andcombined gas-vapour power cycles.

9. REFRIGERATION CYCLES

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

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.

HEAT TRANSFER: Please refer to the Syllabus of Prof. Pagano.

G. CESINI, G. LATINI, F. POLONARA, FISICA TECNICA, CITTÀ STUDI EDIZIONI

Y. A. ÇENGEL - TERMODINAMICA E TRASMISSIONE DEL CALORE - MCGRAW-HILL

M. J. MORAN, H.N. SHAPIRO, B.R. MUNSON, D.P. DE WITT – ELEMENTI DI FISICA TECNICA PER L’INGEGNERIA -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, 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 at the conclusion of the applied thermodynamics section and heat transfer section (in this case, please refer to the Syllabus of Prof. Pagano). Passing the intermediate tests is equivalent to passing the written exam, and these students will then need to take theoral 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 “CourseProgram”), 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 onany compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on educational objectives and specific needs. It is also possible tocontact the CInAP reference teacher (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSA) of theDIEEI (professors Antonella Di Stefano and Arturo Pagano).

Examples of FAQs and/or exercises:

- 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 analyticaland/or graphical exercises

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

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