Thermal Engines

COURSE CONTENT

The course involves the following modules :

1. The significance of the Thermal engines in the modern world.
2. The main types of the conventional Thermal engines and their structure.
3. The historical evolution of the Thermal engines.
4. The structure of the ideal thermodynamic cycles supporting the operation of the conventional engines and their parametric optimization.
5. Elements of Thermochemistry ( Αρχές της θερμοχημείας (The equivalence ratio in the combustion processes, The fuels energy of Reaction, Introduction to chemical kinetics and the generation of the engine pollutants).
6. Kinematic and dynamic analysis of the Reciprocating and the Wankel mechanisms.
7. The kinematic and dynamic analysis of the Ross Yoke for the Stirling engine.
8. A elementary analysis of the Turbomachines (Euler equation, the cascade, the radial eqillibrium)
9. The cycle modifications due to the renewal of the air in the reciprocating engines.
10. Process loss coefficients in the Thrust engines.
11. Real cycle aspects for the reciprocating engines
12. Real cycle aspects for the Turbofan engine.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The learning outcomes involve:

• Knowledge: The students will be familiarized with the basic sciences involved on the operation of all the Thermal Engines on both thermofluidic and mechanical aspects, as well as the main parameters that influence their operation.
• Skills: The students will be able to test actual engines and discuss on a rational basis the generated data.
• Capabilities : The students will be able to evaluate the merits of an engine thermodynamic cycle (in both ideal and real process bases) as well as the operation of the basic mechanism that enables the functioning of that engine.