Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (AET)

Module of Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics/Numerical Modelling

Prof. Pietro Asinari (pietro.asinari@polito.it), http://staff.polito.it/pietro.asinari/
Dr. Eliodoro Chiavazzo (eliodoro.chiavazzo@polito.it)

Multi-scale Modeling Lab - SMaLL, http://www.polito.it/small

Energy Department, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

INTRODUCTION

The course is designed to complete the student's preparation in the field of engineering thermodynamics, whose basics were
provided in previous courses. This teaching module completes the theoretical background required by multi-scale modeling and
simulation applied to the design of components and systems, with special focus on heat transfer. In particular (see the following
schematic vision), the course discusses the fundamentals of classical molecular dynamics (D); the fundamentals of kinetic theory
(K); the continuum thermo-mechanics (C), computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the thermal design (D), including the thermal
performance of energy components and mechanical systems. Finally, the basic concepts of lighting (K'), as a limiting case of kinetic
approach, and those of acoustics (C'), as a limiting case of continuum approach, are provided.

The reference textbook of the course is: P. Asinari, E. Chiavazzo, "An Introduction to Multiscale Modeling with Applications", ISBN
9788874885879, Società Editrice Esculapio, Bologna, 2013. If you are interested: please remind to book it in advance!!!

OBJECTIVE

The objective is to convey to the student (a) preliminary concepts about classical molecular dynamics and kinetic theory, (b) in-
depth knowledge of thermo-mechanical continuous media, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and thermodynamics, and (c)
technical notions about lighting and acoustics. The student is expected to learn how to use theoretical tools for studying transport
phenomena, heat transfer and energy balance of real systems, performing energy analysis of complex real systems (including using
appropriate mathematical models) and managing complex energy conversion systems. Finally, another objective is to convey to the
student the ability to understand the regulations about environmental acoustics and lighting and to perform basic design
calculations.

TOPICS

CLASSICAL MOLECULAR DYNAMICS (M) and KINETIC THEORY (K)

Introduction to classical molecular dynamics. Derivation from quantum mechanics. Bond and non-bond interactions. Force fields.
Elementary numerical schemes (Verlet integration). Elementary statistical ensembles: Thermostats and barostats. Practical
examples. Large systems approaching the local equilibrium: Maxwellian distribution function. The distribution function dynamics.
Linear relaxation towards the local equilibrium: Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) model. Modeling photons transport (see K' section).
Practical examples.

CONTINUUM THERMO-MECHANICS (C)

Deduction of the equation of mass and momentum conservation by both kinetic local equilibrium (see K section) and by elementary
control volume. Deduction of the wave equation (see C' section). Small deviations from the conditions of local equilibrium.
Phenomenological relations in Navier-Stokes-Fourier equations: Stress tensor and thermal flux (see M section). Generalization of
the results obtained by the ideal gas to other types of fluids. Dimensionless equations. Meaning of dimensionless numbers.
Incompressible limit. Equation for kinetic energy and enthalpy. First principle of thermodynamics. Generalization of entropy for
continuous body. Generalization of Gibbs’s correlation. The second principle of thermodynamics for a continuous body. Work, heat
and the thermodynamics of irreversible processes.

THERMAL DESIGN (D)

Deduction of the integral equations for closed systems and open systems (see C section). Technical formulation of integral
equations. Physical meaning of irreversibility. Correct calculation of irreversibility by practical formulas. Turbulence and turbulent
flows. Characteristic scales of the phenomenon, deduction of the equations for the average quantities and the closure problem.
Artificial viscosity induced by turbulence and modeling. Exergy balance in a reversible system. Exergy and internal exergy for an
ideal gas. The theorem of Guy-Stodola. Physical meaning of exergy. Efficiency according to the second principle. Examples of
exergy analysis. Exergy diagrams. Thermodynamic diagrams.

LIGHTING (K')
Deduction of the radiative transfer equation (RTE) from kinetic theory (see K section). The light, electromagnetic radiation, main
features, diffuse radiation. Visual perception and photometric system. Definition of physical units of measured quantities. Point
source. Light intensity. Indicator of emission. Light flux emitted from a point source with a given indicator of emission. The first
formula of Lambert. Linear source, linear luminance, and lighting calculations on surface. Surface source, luminance, and lighting
calculation on a surface. The second law of Lambert. Lambert emitter. Efficiency of a light bulb.

ACOUSTICS (C')
Deduction of the wave equation (see C section). Introduction, elastic, plane, longitudinal and progressive waves. Propagation speed
of elastic waves; sound speed of air. Mechanical power transported by sound wave, wave intensity, resistance and effective
pressure. Acoustic intensity and acoustic feeling: Law of Weber-Fechner. Diagram of the normal acoustic response. Acoustic field,
feeling and the intensity level, decibels. Iso-phon curves. Frequency bands, level of pressure, interpolating weight curve A.
Interaction between elastic waves and materials, factors of reflection, transmission, absorption, apparent absorption. Effect of
frequency. Apparent absorption factor of several walls. Acoustics in open environments. Open field. Sound tail. Acoustic energy
balance and reverberation, reverberation time by conventional formula of Sabine. Sound insulation; sound proofing; plain wall and
law of mass and frequency; case study for a pipe.

LABORATORY
Three laboratories are planned:
a) Classical Molecular Dynamics LAB;
b) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) LAB;
c) Applied acoustics LAB, aimed at evaluating the acoustic performance of a classroom.

PROJECT REPORTS
In addition, a very important part of the course consists in the execution of some project reports:
1) PROJECT REPORT 1: Students are divided into 5 teams, as many as the applications themes. For each theme, they must report
(a) an off-design calculation; (b) an exergetic analysis and (c) all technical details about the performed design. The division into
teams is free, according to their convenience. Each team must identify a project leader (5 project leaders) for exchanging
information with tutors and fixing appointments for receiving advices. Students must gather the starting data by critical analysis and
must prove that they apply effectively the topics discussed in the course. Some example projects are discussed extensively.
2) PROJECT REPORT 2: About applied acoustics (see corresponding LAB in the previous section).
3) PROJECT REPORT 3 [OPTIONAL]: This report is not mandatory, however it may ensure a maximum +2 bonus in the final
examination score. It must cover one of the assigned exercises, proposed during the classical molecular dynamics LAB and kinetic
theory LAB (see previous section).

TEXTBOOOKS

 (REFERENCE TEXTBOOOK): P. Asinari, E. Chiavazzo, "An Introduction to Multiscale Modeling with Applications", ISBN
9788874885879, Società Editrice Esculapio, Bologna, 2013.
 (M) D. Frenkel, B. Smit, "Understanding molecular simulation: from algorithms to applications", San Diego Academic Press,
1996.
 (K) Dieter A. Wolf- Gladrow, "Lattice- gas cellular automata and lattice Boltzmann models: an introduction", Springer, Berlin,
2000.
 (C) G.K. Batchelor, An Introduction to Fluid Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
 (D) A. Bejan, "Advanced Engineering Thermodynamic" John Wiley & Sons 1997.
 (D) F.P. Incropera, D.P. DeWitt, Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, John Wiley & Sons, 2002.

FINAL EXAMINATION

Booking the final examinations is compulsory. The exam is oral and it is based on a detailed discussion about the assigned projects
(mandatory: PROJECT REPORT 1 and PROJECT REPORT 2; optional: PROJECT REPORT 3 for maximum +2 bonus).

Urgent information concerning both the course and examinations will be communicated using the appropriate spaces made available
by the Politecnico’s web site. This web site will give all the other information about the course, including the detailed program,
examples of examination, information on workshops and so on.