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MEEM 5280: Phase-Change, and Two-Phase Flows

Course information: regularly offered in spring semesters (Prerequisite: MEEM 3230: Heat Transfer)

 

This course introduces fundamental physics of two-phase flows and liquid-vapor phase-change heat transfer phenomena. Today, two-phase flows and phase-change heat transfer processes are widespread both in nature and a wide range of industrial applications. In fact, single-phase flows that we learn in typical ME courses are an exception. What we typically encounter in our everyday life and many technological applications is multi-phase flows. They are at the heart of many technologies ranging from power plants, aerospace industry, HVAC systems, automobile systems to electronics, microelectromechanical, and bioengineering systems.

 

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to

(i) understand fundamental transport and interfacial phenomena associated with liquid-vapor phase-change processes (these physical processes can occur in industrial systems and therefore are needed for design and analysis of state-of-the-art thermal management systems, evaporators, boilers, condensers, nuclear reactors, and heat transfer industrial processes),

(ii) properly employ specific models that can be used as an aid in understanding two-phase flows and phase-change heat transfer processes,

(iii) develop analytical tools for design and performance assessment of two-phase devices, and systems involving pool boiling, flow boiling, and condensation phenomena, 

and (iv) perform an elementary analysis of most gas-liquid two-phase systems and be prepared to use more advanced models presented in the literature. 

 

Topics:

Part I: Fundamentals: Interfacial Phenomena and Wetting Physics

  • Topic 1: Thermodynamics of Multi-phase Systems

  • Topic 2: Physics of Interfacial Tension

  • Topic 3: Wetting Phenomena and Contact Angles

  • Topic 4: Transport Effects and Dynamic Behavior of Interfaces

  • Topic 5: Phase Stability and Homogenous Nucleation

Part II: Internal Convective Boiling and Condensation

  • Special lecture: Modeling of Multi-phase Flows in Fluent

  • Topic 6: Heat Transfer in Space: Heat Pipes, Thermal Diodes and Regulators

  • Topic 7: Multi-phase Flows with Droplets/Bubbles/Particles

  • Topic 8: Introduction to Multi-phase and Two-phase Flows

  • Topic 9: Convective Boiling in Tubes and Channels

Part III: Boiling and Condensation Near Immersed Bodies

  • Topic 10: Evaporation

  • Topic 11: Pool Boiling

  • Topic 12: Condensation​

 

Textbooks:

(1) Main Reference 1: Faghri, A., Zhang, Y., Transport Phenomena in Multiphase Systems,  1st ed., 2006, Academic Press.

(2) Main Reference 2: Carey, V.P., Liquid-vapor phase-change phenomena: an introduction to the thermophysics of vaporization and condensation processes in heat transfer equipment. 2nd ed. 2007 (or 1st ed. 1992, or 3rd ed. 2018), New York: Taylor and Francis.

(3) Ghiaasiaan, S. Mostafa. Two-phase flow, boiling, and condensation: in conventional and miniature systems, 2nd ed. 2017, Cambridge University Press.

(4) Collier, J.G., and Thome, J.R., Convective boiling and condensation, 3rd ed. 1996, Oxford University Press.

(5) Wallis, G.B., One-dimensional two-phase flow, 1969, McGraw-Hill.

MEEM 4200/5290: Principal of Energy Conversion – Renewable Energy

Course information: regularly offered in spring semesters (Prerequisite: MEEM 3230: Heat Transfer)

 

Energy is an essential part of our daily life. But today it has reached a crisis point. Currently, 1.2 billion people worldwide - one in every six people - do not have access to electricity. Energy affordability is becoming a problem for many, but our need for energy is still growing and that need is contributing to climate change.

 

To overcome these challenges, we need engineers and professionals with interdisciplinary knowledge across science, policy, and industry. This course is designed to educate the next generation of leaders in sustainable energy. It will provide you with the knowledge and tools to lead challenging and complex energy projects, as well as innovate and collaborate with people from different sectors and organizations. 

 

The “Principal of Energy Conversion – Renewable Energy” course introduces fundamental principles of energy conversion, and renewable energy. It is built upon your undergraduate background in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. Performance metrics and sources of inefficiencies are discussed for a variety of applications, including conventional energy sources, and solar, wind, wave, and geothermal energy systems. The course also provides a quantitative yet accessible overview of renewable energy engineering practice and the technologies that will transform our energy supply systems over the coming years.

 

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to

(i) compare competing energy conversion technologies on an economic and efficiency basis;

(ii) assess the validity of energy conversion claims made in popular media;

(iii) be familiar with thermodynamic processes and power cycles (thermal and mechanical energy);

(iv) be familiar with basic principles of thermal, mechanical, chemical, nuclear, and solar energy conversion;

(v) be familiar with basic principles of energy storage;

(vi) and serve those around you who are trying to make energy-conscious decisions.

 

Topics:

Introductory lectures

  • Topic 1: Global Energy Systems (week 1)

  • Topic 2: Basics (week 1)

Part I: Thermal Power

  • Topic 3: Steam Power Plant (week 2)

  • Topic 4: Gas Turbines (week 3)

  • Topic 5: Internal Combustion Engines (week 4)

  • Topic 6: Nuclear Power through Year 2035 (week 4)

  • Topic 7: Geothermal Power (week 5)

  • Topic 8: OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Converters) (week 5)

Part II: The Sun

  • Topic 9: Solar Energy Resources and Thermal Energy Conversion (week 6)

  • Topic 10: Concentrating Solar Thermal Power (week 7)

  • Topic 11: Photovoltaics (week 8)

  • Topic 12: Bioenergy (week 9)

Part III: WWW: Wind, Wave, and Water

  • Topic 13: Wind Energy (week 10)

  • Topic 14: Wave/Ocean Energy (week 11)

  • Topic 15: Water: Hydropower and hydraulic turbines (week 12)

Part IV: The World of Hydrogen

  • Topic 16: Fuel Cells (week 13)

Final discussion

  • ​​​Topic 17: Energy Storage Technologies (week 14)

 

Textbooks and References:

(1) Main reference 1: D. Yogi Goswami and Frank Kreith, Energy Conversion, 2nd ed., 2017, Boca Raton, CRC Press.

(2) Main reference 2: Aldo da Rosa, Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes, 3rd ed., 2013, Academic Press.

(3) UQx: ENGY0x: Energy Principles and Renewable Energy, edx.

(4) Nicholas Jenkins, Janaka Ekanayake, Renewable Energy Engineering, 1st ed. 2017, Cambridge University Press.

MEEM 2201: Thermodynamics 1

To be updated ...

Course information: regularly offered in Fall semesters (Prerequisite I: MA 2160, Prerequisite II: CH 1150 and CH 1151)

 

This course focuses on the most powerful engineering analysis tool: Thermodynamics, the science of transferring energy from one form or location to another form or place. In this course, we will cover the topics of mass and energy conservation principles; first law analysis of control mass and control volume systems; properties and behavior of pure substances; and applications to thermodynamic systems operating at steady state conditions.

​

By the end of this course, students will be able to

(i) determine properties of real substances, and ideal gases from either tabular data or equations of state,

(ii) state the First Law and define heat, work, thermal efficiency and the difference between various forms of energy,

(iii) identify and describe energy exchange processes (in terms of various forms of energy, heat and work),

(iv) explain at a level understandable by a high school senior or non-technical person how various heat engines work (e.g. a refrigerator or an IC engine),

(v) apply the steady-flow energy equation or the First Law of Thermodynamics to a system of thermodynamic components (heaters, coolers, pumps, turbines, pistons, etc.) to estimate required balances of heat, work and energy flow,

(vi) apply the second law of thermodynamics to a system of thermodynamic components (heaters, coolers, pumps, turbines, pistons, etc.),

(vii) explain at a level understandable by a high school senior or non-technical person the concepts of path dependence/independence and reversibility/irreversibility of various thermodynamic processes, to represent these in terms of changes in thermodynamic state,

and (viii) apply ideal cycle analysis to simple heat engine cycles to estimate thermal efficiency and work as a function of pressures and temperatures at various points in the cycle.

 

Textbooks:

Required: Thermodynamics - An Engineering Approach, 8th Edition by Cengel and Boles, McGraw Hill Publishing, ISBN 860-1419619320.

Recommended: Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, 8th Edition by Moran, Shapiro, Boettner, and Bailey, Wiley Publishing, ISBN 978-1-118-41293-0

MEEM 2911: Mechanical Engineering Practice 2 (MEP 2)

Course information: offered in Spring 2016 (Prerequisite I: MA 2160, Prerequisite II: CH 1150 and CH 1151)

 

In this course, many principles and applications of mechanical engineering will be introduced. Topics include:

> technical communication & various methods of communication including graphical data analysis, 

> conservation of mass and energy with an emphasis on mechanical energy, mechanical energy dissipation, dynamic response during changes in energy or state, and control and stability of dynamic response,

> measurement of pressure, temperature, and flow and determination of sensor response (time constants)

> fan performance and fan/pump laws, 

> data analysis and processing including method of least squares, propagation of uncertainty analysis, data correlation and sensor calibration,

> advanced computational tools including general purpose computational tools (Matlab, EES), simulation tools (Simulink), data acquisition tools (Labview), CAD, and 2D FEA (Hypermesh).

 

By the end of the course, students are expected to demonstrate:
(i) professionalism in their engineering work including the quality of assignments submitted,
(ii) an introductory understanding of the control systems and dynamic response,
(iii) proficiency in using CAD for developing FEA models and manufacturing components,
(iv) proficiency in using Matlab to solve engineering problems,
(v) proficiency in graphical data analysis and communication,
(vi) proficiency in pressure, temperature and flow measurements,
(vii) proficiency in graphical communication,
(viii) proficiency in reader-centered communication,
and (ix) an ability to apply engineering theories to complex engineering systems.

 

References:

(1) MEP 2 course notes.

(2) Measurement of Fluid Flow in Pipes Using Orifice, Nozzle, and Venturi, ASME MFC-3M-2004, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

(3)Technical Communication - A Reader-Centered Approach, 8th ed., P. V. Anderson, Cengel Learning.

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