DCGN209Spring 2002

Introduction to Thermodynamics

Instructor: Dr. Victor F. Yesavage
vyesavag@mines.edu

Alderson Hall 425

Office Hours:  MW 10-11, TuW 3-4, Th 4-5

Web Site http://www.mines.edu/Academic/courses/dc/dcgn209/

Teaching Assistant: Victoria Imeh, vimeh@mines.edu
Text: Cengel, Y. A. and Boles, M. A., "Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach," 4th ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 2002. 
Prerequisites: Credit in CHGN121, CHGN124, MACS111, MACS112 and PHGNl00 or permission of instructor 
Class Attendance: Class attendance is strongly encouraged. Late homework will not be accepted under any circumstances. If you miss class and therefore miss a short quiz, you will receive a zero for that quiz. If you miss an hour examination, you must have an excused absence to qualify for a make-up exam. An excused absence is one where the student has provided the instructor with an acceptable reason in writing for the absence prior to the class to be missed, or provides suitable documentation (for example, a note from the infirmary) at a later date. If you miss class, we will not provide copies of the notes or handout lecture material, copies of missed quizzes, assignments, etc. Copies of assignments will be posted on the course web site. If you miss something, get it from another student or off the web. 

Getting Help: Every effort will be made to help you master the course material. Realize, however, that if you come to see us outside of office hours or without a special appointment, we may be committed to some other activity. Please respect the fact that if our office doors are closed or if we are meeting with another student or professor, we are not available for help. Also note that we don't provide assistance with homework problems, etc. on the telephone. 

Grades: Approximate percentage grade distribution will be as follows:

Two midterm examinations 500 

Homework 100

Short Quizzes, Class Participation  100

Final Exam300

Total    1000


Course Objectives:

For chemical engineers, DC209 is the first course in a three-course sequence dealing with energy and mass balances. The DCGN209 focuses on the basic laws of thermodynamics and material properties. The general objectives of DCGN209 are to master the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics and to be able to apply those concepts to engineering problems. The course is 

fundamental to mastery of any engineering discipline, particularly because the applications of the principles learned are integral to follow-on or parallel courses. For example, in Chemical 

Engineering, principles of phase equilibria form the basis for mass transfer, and the principles of reaction equilibria form the basis for kinetics. 

In order to successfully complete DCGN209, the student should be able to do the following:

1. Define a thermodynamic system and its surroundings, intensive and extensive variables, reversible and irreversible process, heat, work, state and path functions. 

2. Solve First Law problems for both open and closed systems, including those which undergo transient processes. 

3. Be able to state in your own words the meaning of entropy and the Second Law. Calculate the change in entropy of a system and its surroundings as it progresses from one state to another.

4. Calculate heat effects for sensible heats, heats of reaction, formation, and combustion for any common chemical. 

5. For pure fluids, be able to use tabular thermodynamic data to solve first and second law problems, apply simple equations-of-state such as the ideal gas law and the virial equation. 

6. For a two-phase mixture, be able to use Raoult's law to calculate the equilibrium distribution of a component between the two phases at low pressures. 

7. Perform simple thermochemical calculations including applications of the Third Law of thermodynamics. 

Description of Homework, Quizzes, etc. 

Homework: 

“One must learn by doing the thing; for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try" Sophocles. 

Homework is required and will be a part ( 10% ) of your overall grade for the course. An 

assignment will be made every Friday and will be due at the beginning of class one week later. Late homework will not be accepted under any circumstances. Solutions to the homework problems will be posted on the class web site before the due date. 

Each numerical homework problem solution must consist of the following clearly identified components: 

1. Known: State clearly the knowns of the problem (e.g., T = 98°C, V= 20 cm3, etc.). This is where you distill the written problem down to its essential definition. A sketch is required with this component. 

2. Find: State the objective of the problem (e.g., How much work is required to carry out the stated process.) 

3. Assume: State what is not specified and must be assumed (e.g., assume the heat capacity is not a function of temperature, the ideal gas law applies). 

4. Analysis: The worked out solution to the problem. State the basis where applicable and show all work clearly. 

5. Conclusion: The result (answer) and any other observations. 

Start each problem on a new page and only write on one side of the paper. Staple the pages of your homework solutions together. Do not submit them attached with a paperclip or "dog-eared" corners. 

Concept questions will also be given in each homework assignment. Start your answers to the concept questions on a new sheet of paper and again, only write on one side. Your answers to these should be neatly (legibly) written and you may answer more than one question per page. Separate your answers to the questions with at least one blank line. Partial credit will be given. Points will be deducted for extremely sloppy work. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in your assignment not being graded and you will receive a zero for that problem set. 

Reading Assignments: 

The reading assignment from CB for the next week will be made on a timely basis. Occasionally material from the reading, which is not discussed in the lecture, will appear on an exam or short quiz. Handouts will be posted on the web to supplement CB where necessary.


Short Quizzes, Group Exercises, Class Participation: 
Weekly short (e.g., 15-20 min) quizzes will be given generally on a Monday. The short quizzes will cover material discussed in the previous lectures and homework assignments. If you miss one of these, there will be no makeup. At the end of the semester, we will, however, "throw out" your lowest short quiz scores. Usually these quizzes will be open book, closed notes. We will not loan you a textbook or calculator. You are expected to bring your text and calculator to every class. In addition Mondays will also be used as recitations, which may involve assigned or unassigned group and class problems. Class participation will be included as part of your overall grade.
Midterm Examinations: 
These will be major examinations and will emphasize (but not be limited to) new concepts and material that has been covered since the previous midterm exam. In general they will consist of a closed book portion followed by an open book portion. In the open book portion you will be allowed to use two pages of your own handwritten notes along with your book. The closed book portion typically contains true or false questions, definitions, short answer, diagrams, etc. The open book portions contain problems involving computations. Please note the exam dates on the course outline and plan your semester accordingly. 

Final Examination: 

The final will cover all of the material in the course, including any new material since the last hour exam. 

Re-grade Policy: 

If you feel your exam, quiz or project has been unfairly graded, submit a request for a re-grade to your instructor in writing within one week of the return of the item in question. The re-grade will be solely based on your written request. Re-grade requests on the homework should be submitted in writing to the grader within one week of the return of the homework. 

Class Ethics:

Unless otherwise instructed, all class work, that receives a grade, is expected to be done individually. An exception to this rule is homework. Cheating will not be tolerated in DCGN209 .and all incidents will handled according to the guidelines published in the CSM Brunton (CSM Student Handbook). All students are expected to be familiar with these guidelines-if you aren't, read them immediately.


APPROXIMATE COURSE OUTLINE -DCGN209 -Cengel and Boles, 4th ed. 

 
Week
Topic
Chapter 
1/7
Basic Concepts
1
1/14
Basic Calculations
1
1/21
Properties I
2
1/28
Properties II
2
2/4
Heat, Work
3, 4
2/11
First Law I, Exam 1
4
2/18
First Law II
4
2/25
First Law III
4
3/ 4
Second Law
5
3/11
Spring Break
3/18
Entropy I
6
3/25
Entropy II, Exam 2
6
4/1
Entropy III
6
4/8
Gas Mixtures
12
4/15
Combustion
14
4/22
Reactions, Raoult’s Law
14, 15
4/29
Final Exam