ME3324 Introduction to Thermal Science Course Syllabus, Page 1
ME3324 Introduction to Thermal Science
Fall 2002, 4 credits
Lecture: MTWF 12:20 – 1:10 PM, Architecture 33
Collaborative Problem Session: Th 12:20 – 1:10 PM, Architecture 33/Architecture 56
Prerequisites: Chem1021, Math2243, and Phys1301 or equivalent
Teaching Team:
Gary L. Solbrekken
office: ME451, phone: (612) 625-6634, e-mail: gls@me.umn.edu
office hours: Tuesday 9 – 11 in ME003, Thursday 10 – 11 in ME451
Kathleen Peters
office: ME351, phone: (612) 626-8236, e-mail: khpeters@me.umn.edu
office hours: Monday 8 – 10 AM, Tuesday 8 – 9 AM in ME351
Vinod Srinvasan
office: ME233, phone: (612) 626-4562, e-mail: vinods@me.umn.edu
office hours: Monday 1 – 2, Wednesday 11 – 12 AM and Wednesday 1 - 2 PM in ME003
Course Website: http://www.me.umn.edu/courses/me3324
Course E-mail list: TBD
Textbook:
"Fundamentals of Thermal-Fluid Sciences" by Y.A. Cengel and R.H. Turner
Errata website: http://www.mhhe.com/engcs/mech/cengel/tfs/
Grading Breakdown:
10% Collaborative Problems
15% Homework
45% 3 Midterm Exams (15% each)
30% Final Exam
Tentative Course Outline:
I.
Introduction to Thermodynamics
II
Heat and Work
III
Property Evaluation
IV
1st Law of Thermodynamics
V
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
VI
Introduction to Heat Transfer
VII
Conduction
VII
Convection
VIII Radiation
IX
Heat Exchangers
Gary L. Solbrekken, Fall 2002
ME3324 Introduction to Thermal Science Course Syllabus, Page 2
ME3324 Introduction to Thermal Science
Fall 2002, 4 credits
Lecture: MTWF 12:20 – 1:10 PM, Architecture 33
Collaborative problem session: Th 12:20-1:10 PM, Architecture 33/56
Prerequisites: Chem1021, Math2243, and Phys1301 or equivalent
Course Description:
This course is intended to be a broad introduction to thermal energy sciences for upper-level
undergraduate students. Energy systems are present in the operation of many products and
the manufacturing of products. In order to optimize those systems and processes, it is
necessary to develop an analysis methodology. This course will introduce students to real
world energy systems and develop analytic techniques for evaluating these systems. Good
problem solving habits will be instilled by stressing a systematic problem solving process.
Course Objectives
 To use tables for finding thermo-physical properties
 To use the 1st law to find heat and work for power producing devices
 To use the 2nd law to identify realistic processes
 To be able to design insulation systems
 To be able to find heat transfer coefficients for laminar and turbulent, forced and natural
convection flows
 To design heat exchangers using the -NTU method
 To design fins
 To use numeric techniques for solving thermal engineering problems
Course Outline
I.
Introduction to Thermodynamics
II
Heat and Work
III
Property Evaluation
IV
1st Law of Thermodynamics
V
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
VI
Introduction to Heat Transfer
VII
Conduction
VII
Convection
VIII Radiation
IX
Heat Exchangers
Instructor:
Gary L. Solbrekken
office: ME451, phone: (612) 625-6634, e-mail: gls@me.umn.edu
office hours: Tuesday 9 – 11 in ME003, Thursday 10 – 11 in ME451
I will be more than happy to discuss with you any issue relating to this course or any other
matter of particular interest. I will do everything possible to always be available during the
office hours stated above. If for some reason I am not able to make my office hours, the
class will be notified at least 1 day in advance (via e-mail). If you would like to meet with
me outside these office hours, please feel free to contact me at any time to schedule an
appointment.
Gary L. Solbrekken, Fall 2002
ME3324 Introduction to Thermal Science Course Syllabus, Page 3
Teaching Assistants:
Kathleen Peters
office: ME351, phone: (612) 626-8236, e-mail: khpeters@me.umn.edu
office hours: Monday 8 – 10 AM, Tuesday 8 – 9 AM in ME351
Vinod Srinvasan
office: ME233, phone: (612) 626-4562, e-mail: vinods@me.umn.edu
office hours: Monday 1 – 2, Wednesday 11 – 12 AM and Wednesday 1 - 2 PM in ME003
Email List:
An email distribution list has been created for this class. You will be held responsible for all
information transmitted via this format. This email distribution list will be used for
distribution of administrative announcements as well as general discussion. If you wish to
ask a question via e-mail, please send it to myself and the TA’s. We will strip any
identifying information from the e-mail message and answer the question, replying to the
entire class. In this way, the entire class can benefit from your questions. This may serve as
a starting point for further e-mail discussion if any student has any additional insight or
questions on the topic.
Course Website:
Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the course website:
http://www.me.umn.edu/courses/me3324
In addition to course logistic information, updates, and announcements, the course website
also contains links to related websites. This useful resource will be updated through the
semester, so check back often.
Course Textbook:
The text for the course will be "Fundamentals of Thermal-Fluid Sciences" by Y.A. Cengel
and R.H. Turner. It provides an introductory overview review of thermodynamics, fluid
mechanics, and heat transfer. Even though we will not be explicitly covering fluid
mechanics in this class, the fluids sections should provide a useful review for students. There
is an errata for the book at the website:
Errata website: http://www.mhhe.com/engcs/mech/cengel/tfs/
Copies of the textbook are available for purchase at Williamson Bookstore for approximately
$120 new. Note that new copies of the book come with a CDROM that contains a student
version of EES and solved sample problems from the book. While it is not a requirement of
this course to use EES, knowledge and use of some numeric solver will be useful later in the
course when we are covering numeric methods. Also, homework solutions later in the course
will be accepted if they are completed using EES.
Supplementary Readings:
The text list below is not exhaustive or required. It is merely a list of additional resources
that may be of use to you now or later.
Gary L. Solbrekken, Fall 2002
ME3324 Introduction to Thermal Science Course Syllabus, Page 4
Thermodynamics
H. C. Van Ness. Understanding Thermodynamics. New York, Dover Publications Inc.,
1983.
K. Wark and D. E. Richards. Thermodynamics. 6th ed. New York, McGraw Hill, 1999.
M. J. Moran and H. N. Shapiro. Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics. New York,
Wiley, 1988.
S. W. Angrist. Direct Energy Conversion. 3rd ed. Boston, Allyn and Bacon Inc., 1976.
Heat Transfer
M. N. Ozisik. Heat Transfer: A Basic Approach. New York, McGraw Hill, 1985.
E. R. G. Eckert and R. M. Drake. Analysis of Heat and Mass Transfer. New York, McGraw
Hill, 1972.
M. N. Ozisik. Boundary Value Problems of Heat Conduction.
Publications Inc., 1989.
New York, Dover
L. C. Burmeister. Convective Heat Transfer. 2nd ed. New York, Wiley, 1993.
R. Siegel and J. R. Howell. Thermal Radiation Heat Transfer. 3rd ed. Washington, D.C.,
Taylor and Francis, 1992.
S. V. Patankar. Numerical Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow. New York, Hemisphere, 1980.
Student Evaluation:
Expectations
Students are expected to:
 Attend class and arrive on time.
 Prepare for each class meeting and participate actively in discussion and in-class
activities.
 Read and respond to course email messages in a timely fashion.
 Participate actively and equally in all group projects.
 Be respectful of the views of other students
 Ensure that audible signals from electronic devices are disabled during class (i.e., cell
phones and pagers)
 Abide
to
the
rules
of
student
conduct
as
outlined
at:
http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/StudentConduct.html
Expected Workload
This class will meet 5 days a week for 50 minutes a day. On 4 of the days, the class structure
will be lecture and problem solving based. Students are encouraged to ask questions and
actively participate. On the 5th day (Thursdays), students will be broken into small groups to
work collaboratively on more open-ended problems. During the week, students can expect to
read on the order of 50 pages, in addition to homework, the collaborative problems, and
exams.
Gary L. Solbrekken, Fall 2002
ME3324 Introduction to Thermal Science Course Syllabus, Page 5
Grading System
Grades will be assigned based on the percentage breakdown shown below. A forced grading
curve will not be adhered to (read everyone can get an ‘A’), however, significant natural
breaks in the class distribution will be used to assign letter grades.
10% - Collaborative problems
15% - Homework
45% - 3 Midterm Exams (15% each)
30% - Final Exam
Weekly Homework Assignments
Each week, about 10 homework problems will be assigned. It is expected that students will
follow the homework format posted on the website. Non-compliance to the format will
result in point deductions. Of the 10 problems, 3 will be graded rigorously, and an additional
3 will be simply checked to see if they were completed. The graded problems will be
randomly selected each week after the assignments have been handed in.
Since there is not a forced grade distribution, students are encouraged to work in groups on
homework assignments. However, each person must hand in his/her own work. Homework
is to be turned in at the beginning of the class period in which it is due. Late homework will
not be accepted. Graded homework will be returned to students one (1) week from when it
was due. Numeric solutions (not full solutions) will be posted on the website every week.
Collaborative Problems Session
Collaborative design work is paramount in the industrial work environment. In an attempt to
simulate the engineering workplace, design problems will be given to students to work on in
groups of 3 or 4 during 1 class period per week. Students are expected to attend and
participate. The problems will generally be more open-ended (no “right” answer) than the
homework problems, and will require modeling and property assumptions to be made.
Collaboration with colleagues is useful for evaluating the rationale of assumptions made.
In all but 2 weeks, solutions to the problems will be collected at the end of each class session
with each student signing the front page indicating that they accept the solution and that all
group members participated in the solution. For the remaining 2 weeks, a slightly longer
analysis is required, so additional time will be given to complete the assignment. These
problems will count as 2 problems in terms of grading weight.
Exams
Three in-class midterms and a comprehensive final exam (inclusive) will be administered
during the semester. Students are expected to be available on those days for the exams. As
such, makeup exams will be given only in extenuating circumstances (going on vacation is
not an extenuating circumstance, no matter how far in advance it is planned) that must be
cleared with the instructor.
Exams will be given during the normal lecture period. They will generally consist
conceptual as well as application types of problems. Partial credit will be given, so a clear,
well-documented solution process will be critical for full credit. In fact, a correct numeric
answer without proper documentation will result in less than full credit.
Gary L. Solbrekken, Fall 2002
ME3324 Introduction to Thermal Science Course Syllabus, Page 6
Incompletes and Makeup Work
Incompletes will be given in very limited situations. In accordance with University policy,
students will not be penalized for absence due to unavoidable or legitimate circumstances.
Such circumstances include, but are not necessarily limited to, verified illness, participation
in athletic events or other group activities sponsored by the University, serious family
emergencies, subpoenas, jury duty, military service, and religious observances. It is the
responsibility of the student to notify faculty members of such circumstances as far in
advance as possible. A reasonable timeframe will then be established to remove the
incomplete before the ‘I’ turns into an ‘F’ on the student’s transcript.
Makeup work will not be assigned. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain homework
assignments and ensure that they are submitted when due. LATE HOMEWORK WILL
NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Scholastic Misconduct
University of Minnesota Policy on Scholastic Misconduct Scholastic misconduct is broadly
defined as "any act that violates the rights of another student in academic work or that
involves misrepresentation of your own work. "Scholastic dishonesty includes, (but is not
necessarily limited to): cheating on assignments or examinations; plagiarizing, which means
misrepresenting as you own work any part of work done by another; submitting the same
paper, or substantially similar papers, to meet the requirements of more than one course
without the approval and consent of all instructors concerned; depriving another student of
necessary course materials; or interfering with another student's work”. See also:
http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/StudentConduct.html.
Outside Assistance:
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the wide variety of academic/learning services
available here at the University of Minnesota. Potentially helpful resources include:
The Learning and Academic Skills Center
109 Eddy Hall, East Bank; 624-3323
Offers class, workshop, and individual assistance aimed at helping students achieve academic
goals.
The Student Writing Center
306 B Lind Hall; 612 625-1893
Staffed by TA's and ESL specialists, provides writing help to undergraduates, and Macintosh
computers for writing and research.
Disability Statement:
It is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable
accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate
in course activities or to meet course requirements. Students with disabilities are encouraged
to contact the instructors and Disability Services (612-624-4037) as early as possible to
discuss their individual needs for accommodations. All discussions will remain confidential.
This syllabus is available in alternative formats upon request.
Gary L. Solbrekken, Fall 2002