Importance of the study of thermodynamics in Mechanical Engineering

  GROUP C-4 MEMBERS : 

Pranav Nagane (16), Ganesh Naik (17), Manish Naik (18), Muthu Krishnan(19), Neil Yardi (20), Varad Nikam (21)

Guide: Prof. Mukund Nalawade

 

Greetings to all my friends. In this Blog, our group wants to highlight the importance of the study of thermodynamics in mechanical engineering in some aspects. For this purpose, I will divide the description of the article into three basic blocks, the first one will be a brief theoretical description of thermodynamics, laws of thermodynamics, and the fundamental principles that govern this important branch of physics. The second block will be a summary described from my perspective of the importance of thermodynamics within mechanical engineering. For the last, I will write a focused part, conclusions, analysis, and recommendations oriented to the correct application of this science to mechanical engineering, without neglecting the applications that we can find in the design and construction of certain machines that help the processes within mechanical engineering applying the knowledge of thermodynamics.

 

 

Theoretical bases of the study of thermodynamics.

There are many processes that occur in the industry that need study and contribution of mechanical engineering, and this within its forms of application is nourished by thermodynamics to solve many phenomena that involve changes in energy transfers due to changes within the temperatures in different systems involved. For many years the study of thermodynamics has been more attached to science than to engineering, that is from the 1820s onward thermodynamics based its studies on atomic and molecular theories (internal structure of matter) walking through various theories until we reach more practical studies and contributions such as, for example, the possibility of giving a more modern model and way of life to humanity. Have the following questions have ever been asked:

How do a cits contents?

 

 

What types of transformations are those that occur in a power plant?

 

What happens to the kinetic energy of a moving object when it comes to rest?

 

 

The transformations and evolution that the study of thermodynamics was giving rise to a series of laws that give answers to these questions, and in the process that thermodynamics, apart from being governed by scientific studies, can contribute to engineering.

***Laws of thermodynamics ***

·       Law zero (thermal equilibrium): If two objects A and B are separately in thermal equilibrium with an object C, then A and B are in thermal equilibrium with each other. This law is summarized with the following graphic:

 

Another summarized and understandable way to understand the zero law of thermodynamics is taking into account that if two objects: A and B are in equilibrium it is because they have the same temperature, otherwise they would have different temperatures if they are not in thermal equilibrium.

·       The first law of thermodynamics: This is a law that can be applied to numerous processes within mechanical engineering, and at the same time provides a link between the microscopic and macroscopic.

The first law of thermodynamics is a special case of the law of conservation of energy, which includes two stages:

1.   Changes in the internal energy of matter.

2.   Transformation of energy by heat and work.

To understand a bit how the first law works, I will explain the following example:

·       Suppose we have gas at initial conditions whose pressure and the volume would be initial pressure and initial volume, this gas is subjected to a temperature gradient in which it acquires a final state of final pressure and final volume.

It is obvious that during this process the gas underwent a change, where there was a transfer of energy to the system by means of heat, a process by which work was also carried out on the system.

It can be concluded that the work plus the heat transfer in the initial and final state change is completely determined by the initial and final states of the system and will be equal to the internal energy manifested by the system.

This means that the whole first law can be summarized in the following equation:

ΔE = Q + W </ center>

Where:
ΔE =Internal energy of the system
Q = Heat transfer
W = Work done by the system

 

 

Application of thermodynamics in mechanical engineering.

There is no process that is executed within the industries, where there are no transfers and energy transformations, as mentioned at the beginning of the article with the three questions of analysis that were made, the transformation of electrical energy needs a science such as thermodynamics to be able to understand all those thermal and heat transfer processes. The thermoelectric converts the heat generated by diesel fuel into electricity, in all this process is of vital importance to the fundamental principles of the laws of thermodynamics, especially to understand what there must be a balance in energy transfers.

Conclusion

Transcend in the study of thermodynamics to bring industrial processes in the best way, more optimized, especially in the industrial field where there are boilers, turbines, evaporators, condensers, cooling towers, large-scale combustion processes. Knowing how to handle and apply the laws of thermodynamics we will improve these processes, which in turn infer in the improvement of production systems.

The mechanical engineer as a designer, supervisor, and evaluator of various projects that involve being a maintainer, must have clear knowledge and application in thermodynamics, especially taking into account that already in the workplace is much lost academic sense and many processes are they let vital by the habit to solve the problems, and the academic thing is left of the hand, and in this particular case the thermodynamics like fundamental axis within the Engineering in general and still more in mechanical engineering.

References:

Physics for science and engineering. Volume I. Raymond A. Serway. Jhon W. Jewett Jr. Sixth edition.

Thermo gives you a good grasp of energy and how it plays a part in a design process. Hydrologists use these principles when it comes to pressure heads. Structural engineers need to understand energy when dealing with strain energy and mechanical systems. Especially for earthquake design. I consider them to be just as important as mechanics of material or structural analysis when I took them in my undergrad. You also need to understand those principles if, for instance, you end up working with mechanical engineers while designing a power plant.

 

Applications of thermodynamics to energy engineering and environmental engineering

Various energy sources are important for possible human use. Several sources, and inter-conversions of types of energy, are reviewed in Section 18.2. The production of energy often involves depletion of non-renewable, or not easily renewable, fuel or other materials and minerals. It also contributes to environmental pollution, producing gases, liquids, particulates (for example soot or sulfuric acid), and solid “pollutant compounds,” which can be harmful to human and animal health, or the environment in general. It is important for engineers, scientists, and the general public to be aware of energy, environmental, and ecological issues, in order to improve energy efficiency and reduce, mitigate, or prevent environmental or ecological damage. In this chapter, we aim to show how knowledge of thermodynamics can help achieve such goals.

In Section 18.3, we cover some issues relating to overall energy cost analysis and energy efficiency for buildings, transportation, industrial production, and other applications. We emphasize the importance of the energy balance equation and the application of the Carnot-engine efficiency in the analysis of these issues. In Section 18.4, we cover the use of mass balance equations for two important gases in the atmosphere, methane, CH₄, and CO₂. Finally, in Section 18.5, we discuss in thermodynamic terms certain important issues involved in describing, understanding, modeling, and predicting global warming and climate change.