Course syllabus for Thermodynamics

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-09 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameTermodynamik
  • CodeKVM091
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKKMT
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyEnergy and Environmental Systems and Technology, Chemical Engineering with Engineering Physics, Chemical Engineering
  • DepartmentCHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 53118
  • Maximum participants110
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0109 Examination 5.5 c
Grading: TH
5.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c
  • 28 Okt 2024 pm J
  • 08 Jan 2025 am J
  • 20 Aug 2025 pm J
0209 Laboratory 2 c
Grading: UG
2 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Basic chemisty, analysis and linear algebra.

Aim

The aims with the course are to provide
  • a theoretical basis for and experience in using thermodynamic tools and models, based on the first year's chemistry course.
  • the thermodynamic basis for analysis and description of chemical and energy engineering processes.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • describe and use the ideal- and real gas gas models.
  • explain why thermodynamic processes are spontaneous based on a molecular (microscopic) understanding of the concept of entropy.
  • derive general relations for closed systems starting from the laws of thermodynamics and use these in order to calculate changes in state functions for solid and liquid phases, ideal and real gases and simple phase transitions.
  • use Maxwell's relations.
  • use thermodynamic relations, tables and diagrams as well as the laws of thermodynamics for analysis of and calculations for both open and closed systems.
  • describe and perform calculations for standard cycles for conversion between work and heat.
  • apply the concept efficiency for cycles as well as for some cycle components.
  • describe the concept equation-of-state and to use it for calculating relations between pressure, volume and temperature.
  • describe the concept phase equilibrium for pure substances as well as for mixtures and be able to perform calculations for simple phase equilibria.
  • calculate activity coefficients for components in binary mixtures from experimental data and changes in state functions when mixing two components, as well as be able to use simple activity factor models.
  • calculate the equilibrium constant for a chemical reaction from data in thermodynamic tables and apply the information to draw conclusions about the extent of reaction and the composition at equilibrium.

Content

The laws of thermodynamics, energy balances, entropy and entropy balances, the Carnot cycle, thermodynamics for important energy conversion processes (the Rankine cycle, the refrigeration cycle, and combustion engines including gas turbines), equations of state and their use, gas-liquid equilibrium for pure fluids as well as for mixtures, activity factor models and thermodynamics for reacting systems.

Organisation

The course consists of lectures, tutorials, projects and compulsory laboratory work. 

Literature

Elliott, J.R.; Lira C.T., Introductory Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics , Prentice Hall, 2nd ed.
P. Atkins, L. Jones, Chemical Principles, Freeman&Co.
Dedicated texts.

Examination including compulsory elements

Written examination. Completed and approved projects and laboratory work.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.