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Module

CME1021 : Thermodynamics

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Jonathan McDonough
  • Owning School: Engineering
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0

Aims

To provide the student with a thorough grounding in the fundamental principles of thermodynamics.
To introduce applications of thermodynamics to basic chemical engineering situations and establish the fundamentals of chemical engineering thermodynamics such that these can be applied to a range of introductory processes and systems commonly encountered by chemical engineers.
To ensure all students can approach thermodynamic analysis of systems in a logical and methodological manner.

Outline Of Syllabus

The course will provide an introduction to a range of fundamental thermodynamic concepts and their relationships, such as The First Law, Properties of Matter, Equations of State, Heat Capacity, Enthalpy, Reversibility and Irreversibility, Energy Balances, Entropy, The Second Law, Fundamental Equations, The Third Law, Thermodynamic Cycles, Thermochemistry, Equilibrium and Gibbs Free Energy, Reaction Equilibrium, and an Introduction to Steam Tables, Nozzles, and Turbines.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion101:0010:00Revision, engagement with formative online quiz and completion of end of module assessment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture221:0022:00Introduction session and thermodynamics lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching111:0011:00Thermodynamics tutorial & problem solving classes
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study157:0057:00Preparation for lectures and tutorial classes, reading and research
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will develop the required knowledge base, and tutorial classes will enhance the understanding of this knowledge base whilst developing problem solving skills. These will be supplemented with online content where appropriate in diverse formats such as: text, links to videos, discussion boards, etc. Students will be expected to engage in independent study to enhance the subject matter delivered in the lectures and tutorial classes.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination901A100Closed book Written Exam
Formative Assessments
Description Semester When Set Comment
Computer assessment1MOnline quiz (NUMBAS) to be released around December 2023 (result to be used by student to aid their revision)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

CME1021 will be assessed via 1 formative and 1 summative assessment. The formative assessment will be in the form of a quiz that will run prior to the winter break after the lectures/tutorial classes are finished. The results of this test will guide revision by identifying areas of strength/weakness in the thermodynamics content. The summative assessment will be in the form of an in-person written examination that will take place in the January assessment period. This assessment will test the ability of the students to apply and practice using the principles of thermodynamics, and will be appropriate to the intended skills outcomes.

Reading Lists

Timetable