Lecture

Thermodynamic Machines: Basics

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Description

This lecture introduces the basics of thermodynamic machines, covering examples, definitions, categories, and combustion modes. It explores the role of fluids, focusing on steam thermal machines, and discusses the Carnot and Rankine cycles. The lecture also delves into the calculations of common quantities and the efficiency of thermal engines.

In MOOC

Thermodynamics I

Professor J.-Ph. Ansermet from EPFL and his collaborator Dr. Sylvain Bréchet have brought together all the fundamental principles of thermodynamics in four lessons. The second part of the MOOC illustrates the thermodynamic approach through a series of applications presented by specialists from various partner institutions in the RESCIF network. The aim of the course is to help students understand and apply the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics. Following a presentation of the first and second princi

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Physics

Thermodynamics: Statistical mechanics

Energy engineering

Fuel power: Fossil fuel power stations

Related concepts (32)

Steam turbine

A steam turbine is a machine that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam and uses it to do mechanical work on a rotating output shaft. Its modern manifestation was invented by Charles Parsons in 1884. Fabrication of a modern steam turbine involves advanced metalwork to form high-grade steel alloys into precision parts using technologies that first became available in the 20th century; continued advances in durability and efficiency of steam turbines remains central to the energy economics of the 21st century.

Steam engine

A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force can be transformed, by a connecting rod and crank, into rotational force for work. The term "steam engine" is generally applied only to reciprocating engines as just described, not to the steam turbine. Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separated from the combustion products.

Thermal efficiency

In thermodynamics, the thermal efficiency () is a dimensionless performance measure of a device that uses thermal energy, such as an internal combustion engine, steam turbine, steam engine, boiler, furnace, refrigerator, ACs etc. For a heat engine, thermal efficiency is the ratio of the net work output to the heat input; in the case of a heat pump, thermal efficiency (known as the coefficient of performance) is the ratio of net heat output (for heating), or the net heat removed (for cooling) to the energy input (external work).

Thermodynamic system

A thermodynamic system is a body of matter and/or radiation, considered as separate from its surroundings, and studied using the laws of thermodynamics. Thermodynamic systems may be isolated, closed, or open. An isolated system exchanges no matter or energy with its surroundings, whereas a closed system does not exchange matter but may exchange heat and experience and exert forces. An open system can interact with its surroundings by exchanging both matter and energy.

Carnot cycle

A Carnot cycle is an ideal thermodynamic cycle proposed by French physicist Sadi Carnot in 1824 and expanded upon by others in the 1830s and 1840s. By Carnot's theorem, it provides an upper limit on the efficiency of any classical thermodynamic engine during the conversion of heat into work, or conversely, the efficiency of a refrigeration system in creating a temperature difference through the application of work to the system.

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