2025

Applied Thermodynamics

Name: Applied Thermodynamics
Code: EME00528L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area: Mechanical Engineering

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

Give to the students basic knowledge of thermodynamics that will be used in other curricular units of the courses
they attend. At the end of the course the students, in view of the need to obtain a value from a given property should
know which table to use and the procedure necessary to obtain the desired value and to identify the physical state of
the system. At the end of the course students should know how to make energy balances in closed or open systems,
knowing how to use them in concrete situations. With the knowledge learned, students should know how to analyze
systems such as a steam power plant.

Contents

1 – Basic Concepts
Systems. Closed systems and open systems. Properties of a system. Specific volume. Pressure. Temperature. State
of equilibrium. Processes and cycles.
2 – Energy and 1st Law of Thermodynamics
Reviews on mechanical energy. Work, energy, heat. Energy balance in closed systems. Energy analysis of Cycles.
3 – Calculation of properties. Tables
Introduction. P-v-T relation. Diagrams. Phase change. Obtaining Thermodynamic properties using tables. Energy
balance. Specific heats. Compressibility. Ideal Gas. Energy balance with ideal gases.
4 – Open Systems
Conservation and mass balance. Energy Conservation. Examples in stationary regime. Transient Regime.
5 – Second Law of Thermodynamics
Carnot Cycle. Entropy. Entropy Variation. Entropy balance in closed systems.
6 – Steam Power Systems
Introduction. Ideal Rankine Cycle. Comparison with the Carnot Cycle.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical and theoretical-practical classes where students will use the knowledge acquired in the theoretical classes through problem solving.
Two works in the lab with measurements data analysis and reports.

Assessment

The assessment consists of the following components:

L1 and L2 ? Lab work with written report
T1 and T2 ? Assessment tests
E ? Final exam

For continuous assessment, the final grade [FG] is calculated by:
FG = 0.15 x (L1+L2)/2 + 0.85 x (T1+T2)/2 

For final exam assessment, the final grade [FG] is calculated by:
FG = 0.15 x (L1+L2)/2 + 0.85 x E

Minimum grades for T1, T2 and E: 7.5/20
Minimum grades for L1 and L2: 10/20

Teaching Staff

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