Module Catalogue 2026/27

Pre Requisite Comment

English Language to IELTS 6.0 or Pearsons 54 or equivalent. Satisfy progression or admission requirement for entry to Stage 2 on engineering degree programme by satisfactory completion of Stage 1 or equivalent at Level 4 normally with one year of prior study related to this topic.

Co Requisite Comment

Stage 2 of engineering degree

Aims

The aim is to provide an extension of core knowledge and skills in this field of engineering science, with applications of heat transfer, second-law of thermodynamics and exergy analysis for Stage 2 Mechanical Engineering students.

Outline Of Syllabus

Introduction to the basic principles of heat transfer and zeroth law of thermodynamics

Conduction heat transfer: governing equations, steady state and transient heat conduction problems and heat conduction from extended surfaces

Radiation in non-participating medium: basic radiation concepts and discussion on electromagnetic waves; Planck’s distribution, Stefan-Boltzmann law, Wein’s law, concept of black body, concepts of emissivity, absorptivity and transmissivity, concepts of view factor, radiation exchange between surfaces

Convective heat transfer: concept of thermal boundary layer, concepts of forced convection for external flows, forced convection in ducts, natural convection, heat transfer correlations and nondimensional numbers, dimensional analysis of convective transfer problems involving Buckingham’s pi theorem.

Heat exchanger analysis: Introduction to different types of heat exchangers, concepts of overall heat transfer coefficient, log-mean temperature difference (LMTD) analysis, effectiveness of heat exchangers, e-NTU analysis

Second law of thermodynamics, Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements; Carnot cycle, concept and origin of irreversible processes, Clausius inequality; Concept of entropy, TdS relationships,
Second-law analysis of cyclic processes: process and cycle representation on T-s charts; isentropic efficiency, concepts of lost work, irreversibility and exergy.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will be able to:

- Identify and describe constraints on energy conversion processes based an integrated and systems approach.(C6)

- Apply the principles of conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer by extracting the relevant data from steam and other property tables and making sensible engineering assumptions.(C1, C2,C4)

- Apply and use the concepts of log-mean temperature difference and effectiveness of heat exchangers depending on the problem and make engineering judgements on the performance of heat exchangers.(C1,C2,C3)

- Apply conversion and transfer of energy in flow devices, basic power cycles and heat exchangers by identifying appropriate techniques.(C3)

Intended Skill Outcomes

On satisfactory completion of the course students should be able to:

- Apply a comprehensive knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics and engineering principles to the solution of complex thermal engineering problems (C1)

- Use the available data using first principles of mathematics, heat transfer, thermodynamics and engineering judgement to come substantiated conclusions. (C2)

- Select and apply appropriate analytical techniques to model complex heat transfer and thermodynamics problems and identify the relative merits and limitations of the chosen technique.(C3)

- Select and critically evaluate technical literature related to heat transfer and thermodynamics to solve problems of engineering relevance.(C4)

- Apply an integrated or system approach to the solutions of heat transfer and thermodynamics problems.(C6)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

- Lectures convey the underlying engineering sciences and the approaches required to apply these to the discipline-specific problems identified.

- Tutorials support the students' self-study in reading around the lecture material and learning to solve the practical engineering problems posed by the Tutorial Questions.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The end of semester examination will provide an appropriate way to assess both theoretical understanding and practical problem-solving skills under time-constraint as required in industry. The open book and open notes examinations allow for the evaluation of conceptual understanding rather than memorising materials which are available in engineering handbooks. All the skills outcomes are assessed in the questions asked in the examinations. One 3-hr long exam ensure that all the learning outcomes are properly assessed without any alternative choices and within a reasonable timeframe. The summative feedback from the mid-semester exam also helps the students to perform better in the end of semester examination. The timetabled tutorials will be used for formative assessments of the students and thus it is not explicitly stated under teaching activities. All the intended knowledge outcomes and intended learning outcomes (C1,C2,C3,C4 & C6) will be assessed in the questions asked in the NUMBAS assessment.

General Notes

N/A