Synopses & Reviews
Review
"In general, the writing is clear and to the point without straying. Much of the space it taken up by the examples, which is generally a good approach for thermodynamics. The key point is to design exercises that allow the student to practice without having them look so similar to the examples that the students do not need to think. I believe the text rises to this challenge."
Review
"Three positive points about the text: the approach of using examples to motivate students; many examples to show the application of basic concepts; the clear writing style emphasizing the understanding of the concept."
Synopsis
THERMODYNAMICS FOR ENGINEERS focuses on outcome-based learning, which has been identified by ABET as an essential aspect of engineering curricula. Learning outcomes are listed at the start of each chapter and identified as completed at relevant places in the text, followed by a summary at the end of each chapter. Authors Kenneth Kroos and Merle Potter bring decades of teaching experience to a clear writing style that describes key concepts without straying from the course. The language of thermodynamics is explained in careful detail so that students can quickly understand the concepts presented and the analysis techniques used. Extensive use of practical examples demonstrates the proper set-up and solution of problems. These skills are then further developed using a wide variety of homework problems. Some homework problems are presented with an increased degree of complexity to allow the instructor to challenge the more accomplished. THERMODYNAMICS FOR ENGINEERS focuses on clearly outlining the role of thermodynamics in "real" engineering. It takes students through clear explanations of concepts, followed by mathematical techniques of analysis and applications of these in solving engineering problems.
About the Author
Kenneth A. Kroos has a B.S., M.S., and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo. He taught for five years at Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Tennessee, served as Student Section Advisor and Chair of the Memphis-Mid-south Section of ASME. Dr. Kroos joined Villanova University in 1982, teaching courses thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and several others. He serves as Assistant Department Chair for the Mechanical Engineering Department, has authored more than fifteen publications in the fields of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, engineering education and computer graphics for flow visualization, performed research in computer graphics for the U. S. Army Ballistics Research Lab, and consulted for a number of companies in the Memphis and Philadelphia areas. Dr. Kroos is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). He served as Vice President of ASME in 2001 and served a three year term on the Council for Member Affairs. Merle C. Potter holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering Mechanics from Michigan Technological University, an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a PhD in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Michigan. Dr. Potter taught for 40 years, 33 of those years spent at Michigan State University, which he joined in 1965. He teaches thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and numerous other courses. He has authored and co-authored 35 textbooks, help books, and engineering exam review books. He has performed research in fluid flow stability and energy. Dr. Potter has received numerous awards, including the Ford Faculty Scholarship, Teacher-Scholar Award, ASME Centennial Award . and the MSU Mechanical Engineering Faculty Award. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Tau Sigma, Sigma Xi, the ASEE, ASME, and American Academy of Mechanics.
Table of Contents
PART I. CONCEPTS AND BASIC LAWS. 1. Basic Concepts and Systems of Units. Introduction. Dimensions and Units. Properties, Processes, and Equilibrium. Pressure. Temperature. Energy. Summary. 2. Properties of Pure Substances. Phases of a Substance. Internal Energy and Enthalpy. Refrigerants. Ideal Gas Law. Real Gas Equations of State. Internal Energy and Enthalpy of Ideal Gases. Specific Heats of Liquids and Solids. Summary. 3. The First Law for Systems. Work. Heat Transfer. Problem Solving Method. The First Law Applied to Systems. The First Law Applied to Various Processes. Cycles. Summary. 4. The First Law Applied to Control Volumes. The Conservation of Mass for Control Volumes. The First Law for Control Volumes. Unsteady Flow. Devices Combined into Cycles. Summary. 5. The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Second Law Concepts. Statements of The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Cycle Performance Parameters. The Carnot Cycle. Summary. 6. Entropy. Inequality of Clausius. Entropy. of an Entropy Change in Substances. Entropy Changes for a Control Volume. Isentropic Efficiency. Exergy (Availability) and Irreversibility. Summary. 7. Thermodynamic Relations. The Maxwell Relations. The Clapeyron Equation. Relationships for Internal Energy, Enthalpy, Entropy, and Specific Heats. The Joule-Thompson Coefficient. Real Gas Effects. Summary. PART II. APPLICATIONS. 8. The Rankine Power Cycle. Energy Sustainability. The Rankine Cycle. Modified Rankine Cycles. Cogeneration Cycles. Losses in Power Plants. Summary. 9. Gas Power Cycles. Air-Standard Analysis. Reciprocating Engine Terminology. The Otto Cycle. The Diesel Cycle. Other Gas Power Cycles. Brayton Cycle. The Combined Brayton-Rankine Cycle. Summary. 10. Refrigeration Cycles. The Vapor Compression-Refrigeration Cycle. Cascade Refrigeration Systems. Absorption Refrigeration. Gas Refrigeration Systems. Summary. 11. Mixtures and Psychrometrics. Gas Mixtures. Air-Vapor Mixture and Psychrometry. Air-Conditioning Processes. Summary. 12. Combustion. Introduction. Combustion Reactions. The Enthalpy of Formation and the Enthalpy of Combustion. Adiabatic Flame Temperature. Actual Flame Temperature. Equilibrium Reactions. Summary. PART III. CONTEMPORARY TOPICS. 13. Alternative Energy Conversion. Biofuels. Solar Energy. Fuel Cells. Thermoelectric Generators. Geothermal Energy. Wind Energy. Ocean and Hydroelectric Energy. Summary. 14. Thermodynamics of Living Organisms. Energy Conversion in Plants. Energy Conversion in Animals. Generation of Biological Work. Summary. Appendix. A: Conversion of Units. B: Material Properties. C: Steam Tables - SI Units. Steam Tables - English Units. D: Thermodynamic Properties of R134a- SI Units. Thermodynamic Properties of R134a - English Units. E: Properties of Ammonia- SI Units. F: Ideal-Gas Tables - SI Units. G: Psychrometric Chart. H: Compressibility Chart. I: Enthalpy Departure Charts. J: Entropy Departure Charts. Index.