Undergraduate MEMS 1065

Thermal Systems Design

(3 units)

Description: Design, analysis, and optimization of thermal systems. Systems analysis applied to heat exchanger, power conversion, air conditioning, refrigeration, and heat recovery systems. Economics, equation fitting, and thermal property evaluation is integrated into the simulation and optimization of thermal system designs.

Prerequisites: MEMS 1051, MEMS 1052, and MEMS 1072.

Textbook: Thermal Design and Optimizations, by Bejan, Tsatsaronis & Moran, Wiley, 1995.

Course Objectives:

• To integrate material from the basic courses in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer into the design of various thermal systems.
• To give students practice in using computer techniques in modeling and simulating typical thermal systems.
• To introduce students to elementary economic calculations involving time and interest.
• To familiarize students with the environmental impact of energy systems.
• To present several examples of the optimization of thermal systems.

Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to thermal system design and project formulation
2. Review of the basic equations
3. Economics, cost analysis, and environmental impact
4. Determination of overall heat transfer coefficients
5. Detailed analysis of heat exchangers
6. Modeling of passive piping networks
7. Overview of pumping mechanisms and designs and performance of centrifugal pumps
8. Fuel cells and advanced/hybrid power systems
9. Simulation of complex systems
10. Optimization applied to thermal systems
11. Discussions for group design projects
12. Design project oral presentation

Class Schedule: One two-hour and 40-minute period of lecture per week

Professional Component Contributions: Engineering science and design

Relationship to Program Objectives: 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4

Prepared by: Laura A. Schaefer

Date Prepared: March 23, 2005