MECHENG 311 : Thermal Engineering
Engineering
2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The main aim of the course is to advance the students’ understanding of thermodynamics and heat transfer principles and their applications to real engineering systems. The course builds on material introduced in the course MECHENG 211 Thermo-Fluids.
The topics covered in this course include the followings:
1. Thermodynamics and the Second Law:
- Thermodynamics Introduction/revision
- Second law
- Entropy
- Introduction to cycles.
- Ideal gas and vapour power cycles.
- Refrigeration and heat pump cycles.
- Heat transfer by conduction and convection,
- Convection and heat exchangers
- Radiation
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and solve heat transfer in internal flow and natural convection using correlations (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Understand and analyse radiative heat transfer between two or three bodies using view factors and thermal resistance networks. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Analyse and size heat exchangers using LMTD and NTU methods (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Be able to correctly draw P-V diagrams for thermodynamic processes and cycles, draw schematics of heat engines and refrigerators, and define and correctly calculate the thermal efficiency and COP, and their limits from the second law. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Be able to calculate entropy change in a thermodynamic process, plot T-S and H-S diagrams of thermodynamic processes and cycles, define and calculate isentropic efficiencies, entropy generation and irreversibility. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Be able to draw T-S and P-V diagrams for the Otto, Diesel and Brayton cycles, calculate the properties of the working fluid and the power output and thermal efficiency of the cycles, describe applications of the cycles, and compare relative advantages and disadvantages, including environmental impact. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Be able to draw T-S and P-V diagrams for the Rankine and Vapour Compression Refrigeration cycles and describe applications of the cycles, calculate the properties of the working fluid using tables, and the power output/requirements and thermal efficiency/COP of the cycles and their effect on environmental impact. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Critically evaluate and reflect on energy studies: Ability to understand, assess and question events regularly reported in the news medium. (Capability 2.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 30% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 50% | Individual Examination |
| Laboratories | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignments | 15% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
- A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.
- Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
- The tests will be in-person. Attendance on campus is required, and the assessment will be under exam conditions.
- Late submission penalties will be applied for the Assignment and Laboratories as stated on Canvas.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week engaged with it.
In each typical week in this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures and a 1-hour tutorial. The remaining time is expected to be spent independently reading, thinking about the content, working through the problem sheets, and working on assessments.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities such as labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including clinics will be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Some activities may be conducted in the MDLS Lab Spaces under the guidance/supervision of a technician and/or a teaching assistant. Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.