Engineering Thermodynamics

Course Description

EGN3343C – Engineering Thermodynamics is a 3-credit upper-division lecture course (often offered with an integrated laboratory experience indicated by the "C" suffix) in the Engineering: General taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course presents an axiomatic introduction to the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics — energy, work, heat, entropy — and the laws governing the transfer and transformation of energy. Students learn to evaluate thermodynamic properties of pure substances and ideal gases, apply the conservation of energy (first law) and entropy production (second law) to closed and open systems, and use these tools to analyze engineering systems including power-generation cycles, refrigeration cycles, and other engineering applications.

EGN3343C is a required course in mechanical, aerospace, chemical, civil (HVAC track), and biomedical engineering programs at Florida public universities (UF, USF, UCF, FAU, FIU, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, FGCU, Florida Polytechnic). The course is generally referred to as "Thermodynamics I" and is followed by Thermodynamics II / Heat Transfer at most institutions. Some institutions offer this course as a lecture-only EGN3343 (without the "C" indicator).

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define and apply fundamental thermodynamic concepts, including system, surroundings, boundary, state, process, cycle, equilibrium, and properties (pressure, temperature, specific volume, internal energy, enthalpy, entropy).
• Evaluate thermodynamic properties of pure substances, including the use of property tables for water and refrigerants, phase diagrams, and the saturated/superheated/subcooled regions.
• Apply the ideal gas law and ideal gas property relations, including specific heats and the use of compressibility factors for non-ideal behavior.
• Apply the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy) to closed systems, including evaluation of work and heat transfer for various processes (constant volume, constant pressure, isothermal, adiabatic, polytropic).
• Apply the first law to open systems (control volumes), including steady-flow energy equation analysis of nozzles, diffusers, turbines, compressors, throttling devices, and heat exchangers.
• State and apply the second law of thermodynamics, including the Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements, the concept of reversibility, and Carnot efficiency.
• Evaluate entropy changes for substances during processes; apply the entropy balance to closed and open systems; identify isentropic processes.
• Analyze basic power and refrigeration cycles (Carnot, Rankine, Otto, Diesel, refrigeration) and compute thermal efficiencies and coefficients of performance.
• Solve engineering thermodynamic problems using systematic problem-solving methodology, with attention to assumptions, sign conventions, and unit analysis.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis, students may also:

• Apply exergy (availability) analysis to evaluate the maximum useful work obtainable from a system and identify sources of irreversibility.
• Analyze gas mixtures using Dalton's and Amagat's laws and conduct basic psychrometric analysis for HVAC applications.
• Apply combustion analysis for stoichiometric and excess-air combustion of hydrocarbon fuels.
• Conduct laboratory experiments demonstrating thermodynamic principles when offered with the "C" lab component.
• Use computational tools (MATLAB, EES — Engineering Equation Solver, or Python) to solve advanced thermodynamic problems.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Basic Concepts: Thermodynamic systems, properties, states, processes, equilibrium; pressure, temperature, and the zeroth law; units (SI and U.S. Customary).
• Energy and the First Law: Forms of energy; work and heat transfer modes; first law for closed systems; energy balance.
• Properties of Pure Substances: Phase change behavior; T-v, P-v, P-T diagrams; saturation, superheat, and compressed liquid; property tables for water and refrigerants.
• Ideal Gas: Ideal gas equation of state; specific heats (constant volume and constant pressure); enthalpy and internal energy of ideal gases; introduction to compressibility factor.
• First Law for Open Systems (Control Volumes): Conservation of mass; steady-flow energy equation; analysis of nozzles, diffusers, turbines, compressors, pumps, throttling valves, and heat exchangers.
• Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat engines, refrigerators, heat pumps; Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements; reversibility; Carnot cycle and Carnot efficiency.
• Entropy: Definition and properties of entropy; isentropic processes; entropy balance for closed and open systems; entropy generation.
• Vapor Power Cycles: Ideal and actual Rankine cycle; reheat and regenerative cycles; cycle efficiency improvements.
• Gas Power Cycles: Otto cycle (spark-ignition engines); Diesel cycle (compression-ignition engines); Brayton cycle (gas turbines); cycle efficiencies.
• Refrigeration Cycles: Vapor-compression refrigeration; absorption refrigeration (overview); heat pump operation; coefficient of performance.

Optional Topics

• Exergy (Availability) Analysis: Reversible work, irreversibility, second-law efficiency.
• Gas Mixtures and Psychrometrics: Composition of gas mixtures; air-water vapor mixtures; psychrometric chart; HVAC applications.
• Combustion: Stoichiometric and excess-air combustion; first-law analysis of combustion processes; adiabatic flame temperature.
• Laboratory Component (when offered as 3343C): Heat engine demonstrations; refrigeration cycle experiments; calorimetry; combustion experiments.
• Computational Methods: Use of EES, MATLAB, or Python to evaluate property tables and solve cycle problems.

Resources & Tools

• Standard Textbooks: Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach by Çengel and Boles (most widely adopted in Florida); Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics by Moran, Shapiro, Boettner, and Bailey; Fundamentals of Thermodynamics by Borgnakke and Sonntag
• Online Homework Platforms: McGraw-Hill Connect (Çengel); Wiley Plus (Moran)
• Property Tools: Steam tables and refrigerant tables (Appendix in textbook); NIST WebBook for fluid properties; Engineering Equation Solver (EES) for property evaluation and equation solving
• Computational Tools: Engineering Equation Solver (EES) — widely used for thermodynamic analysis; MATLAB or Python for cycle analysis
• Lab Equipment (when offered as 3343C): Steam tables and saturation apparatus; refrigeration cycle demonstration units; small-scale heat engines; calorimeters
• Reference Standards: ASHRAE handbooks for HVAC and refrigeration applications

Career Pathways

Engineering Thermodynamics is foundational for any engineering field involving energy conversion, fluid systems, heat, or environmental control. Successful completion supports progression into the following:

• Mechanical Engineering – Foundation for power generation, automotive engines, gas turbines, refrigeration and HVAC system design.
• Aerospace Engineering – Foundation for jet propulsion, rocket propulsion, and gas-turbine engine analysis, with strong relevance to Florida's Space Coast aerospace and defense industry.
• Chemical Engineering – Foundation for chemical process design, separation operations, and reactor analysis.
• Civil/Environmental Engineering (HVAC track) – Foundation for building energy systems and sustainable building design.
• Energy Engineering and Power Industry – Foundation for careers with Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida, and other utility-sector employers; renewable energy systems (solar thermal, geothermal, biomass).
• Biomedical Engineering – Foundation for bioheat transfer, hyperthermia/cryotherapy, and biomedical device thermal analysis.

Special Information

FE Examination Preparation

Thermodynamics is a major topic area on the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, especially for the Mechanical, Chemical, and Other Disciplines specifications. Mastery of property evaluation, first- and second-law analysis, and basic cycle analysis developed in EGN3343C directly supports FE preparation, the first step toward Professional Engineer (P.E.) licensure in Florida.

Course Number Variations

Some Florida institutions offer this course as EGN3343 (without the "C" lab indicator) when delivered as a lecture-only course. Course content is equivalent under Florida SCNS. At FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and a few other institutions, equivalent content may be delivered through EML 3100 – Thermodynamics.

Foundation for Upper-Division Coursework

EGN3343C is a prerequisite or critical preparation for upper-division courses including heat transfer (EML 4140 or equivalent), fluid mechanics, internal combustion engines, gas turbines, HVAC system design, refrigeration, propulsion, and renewable energy systems.