Modern Engineering Thermodynamics

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Preface
10. Case studies in applied thermodynamics. Scattered throughout the text are numerous case studies
describing actual engineering applications of specific thermodynamic concepts. Typical case studies include
the following topics:
Supercritical wastewater treatment; The “drinking bird”; Heat pipes; Vortex tubes; A hypervelocity
gun; GE 90 aircraft engine; Stirling engines; Stanley steamer automobile; Forensic analysis.
11. Historical vignettes. The text also contains numerous short stories describing human side of the
development of important thermodynamic concepts and technologies. The following example is from
Chapter 14.
IS IT DANGEROUS TO STUFF A CHICKEN WITH SNOW?
The great British philosopher and statesman Sir Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was keenly interested in the possibility of using
snow to preserve meat. In March 1626, he stopped in the country on a trip to London and purchased a chicken. He had the
chickenkilledandcleanedonthespot,thenhepackeditwith snow and took it with him to London. Unfortunately,
the experiment caused his death only a few weeks later. The 65-year-old statesman apparently caught a chill while stuffing
the chicken with snow and came down with terminal bronchitis. Refrigeration was clearly not something to be taken lightly.
12. Chapter summaries. Each chapter ends with a summary (including relevant equations) that reviews the
important concepts covered in the chapter.
13. End-of-chapter problems:
■ Homework problems. At the end of each chapter, an extensive set of problems is provided that is
suitable for homework assignments or solved classroom examples. The homework problems include
traditional ones that have only one unique answer, as well as modern computer problems, design
problems, and writing to learn problems that allow students more latitude.
■ The computer problems allow students to use spreadsheets and equation solvers in modern
programming languages to address more complex problems requiring a range of solutions.
■ The design problems provide an opportunity for students to carry out a preliminary design requiring
the use of the material presented in the chapter.
■ Writing to learn problems have a dual function. They allow students to enhance their understanding of
the subject by expressing themselves verbally in short, written essays about topics presented in the
chapter, and they also develop students’ writing and communication skills.
■
Create and solve problems are designed to help students learn how to formulate solvable
thermodynamics problems from engineering data. Engineering education tends to focus only on the
process of solving problems. It ignores teaching the process of formulating solvable problems. However,
working engineers are never given a well-phrased problem statement to solve. Instead, they need to react
to situational information and organize it into a structure that can then be solved using the methods
learned in college.
14. Appendices. There are two appendices in this text. Appendix A provides a list of unit conversions. Since
thermodynamics is laced with a variety of technical terms, some having Greek or Latin origin, Appendix B
provides a brief introduction to the etymology of these terms, in the belief that understanding the meaning of
the words themselves enhances the learning of the subject matter.
15. “Thermodynamic Tables to accompany Modern Engineering Thermodynamics” is included with new copies of this
text. This booklet contains Appendices C and D, tables, and charts essential for solving the text’s
thermodynamics problems.
The United States uses more than 10 17 (100 quadrillion) Btu of energy every year. But the really surprising fact
is that 45% of this energy ends up as waste heat dumped into the lakes, rivers, and atmosphere. Our energy
conversion technologies today are inefficient because we still rely on the burning of fossil fuels. As the 21st century
progresses and more and more countries strive to improve their standard of living, we will need to do a better job
of providing nonthermal energy sources. We can and will develop new energy-conversion technologies through a
detailed understanding and use of the principles of thermodynamics.