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2018　Thermodynamics of Nonequilibrium Systems

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Academic unit or major
Graduate major in Mechanical Engineering
Instructor(s)
Murakami Yoichi  Okuno Yoshihiro 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Thr7-8(S223,G111)  
Group
-
Course number
MEC.E431
Credits
1
Academic year
2018
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2018/3/20
Lecture notes updated
2018/5/16
Language used
English
Access Index

Course description and aims

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, which is increasingly becoming important in the field of mechanical engineering recently, provides useful theoretical framework toward various transport phenomena in advanced technologies such as fuel cells, secondary batteries, thermos-electric conversion, and plasma technologies. Specifically, this theoretical framework provides a set of equations used to systematically treat multiple transport processes (e.g., transport of heat, mass, and electrical charge) that proceed simultaneously in the same space and interactions among them.
The aim of this lecture is to have students effectively learn the contents of this course first by introducing the theoretical framework and equations employing basic engineering problems as examples and then by applying them to specific engineering problems.

Student learning outcomes

By completing this course, student will:
- Understand the concept and theory of thermodynamics for nonequilibrium systems
- Recognize the usefulness of the theoretical framework for treating broad engineering problems related to transport phenomena
- Become able to use/apply it to specific engineering problems

Keywords

Non-equilibrium, Thermodynamics, Transport phenomena

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills Intercultural skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

This course consists of eight lectures. Students are strongly encouraged to take his/her own lecture notes and review what they learned after each lecture.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Outline and fundamental concept of non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Learn fundamental concept of non-equilibrium thermodynamics and become able to explain the contents.
Class 2 Entropy generation, dissipation function, transport of heat/mass/charge Learn entropy generation, dissipation function, transport of heat/mass/charge, and become able to explain the contents.
Class 3 Flux equation, phenomenological coefficients, Onsager reciprocal relations Learn flux equation, phenomenological coefficients, Onsager reciprocal relations, and become able to explain the contents.
Class 4 Application of flux equation (1): Transport process in concentration cells Learn transport process in concentration cells as application of flux equation, and become able to explain the contents.
Class 5 Application of flux equation (2): Transport process in systems under temperature gradient Learn transport process in systems under temperature gradient as application of flux equation, and become able to explain the contents.
Class 6 Application of flux equation (3): Transport process in ion-exchange membranes Learn transport process in ion-exchange membranes as application of flux equation, and become able to explain the contents.
Class 7 Application (1): Production process and energy transfer in plasmas Learn production process and energy transfer in plasmas as application of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and become able to explain the contents.
Class 8 Application (2): Applications of nonequilibrium plasmas Learn applications of nonequilibrium plasmas as application of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, and become able to explain the contents.

Textbook(s)

K. S. Forland, T. Forland, S. K. Ratkje, "Irreversible Thermodynamics: Theory and Applications" John Wiley & Sons

Reference books, course materials, etc.

S. Wisniewski, B. Staniszewski, R. Szymanic, "Thermodynamics of nonequilibrium processes", PWN-Polish Scientific.
S. R. de Groot, P. Mazur, "Non-equillibrium thermodynamics", North-Holland Publishing Co. or Dover Publications.

Assessment criteria and methods

At the end of a few lectures (see note below), short exams will be held to check student's understanding on the lectured contents. The grade is evaluated based on these scores. During this short exam, students can only look at the lecture notes that were hand-written by themselves and printed-out handout made and provided by the lecturers during this course. During the exam, students must not look at other materials such as copies of lecture notes made by other people, printed materials that were not distributed during this course, etc. One has to bring a scientific calculator to the exam; use of mobile devices including smart phones and laptop PCs is not allowed.
[Note: Depending on the situation, this may be carried out in the "extra courses and end of term exams" period.]

Related courses

  • Other mechanical engineering and energy related courses
  • MEC.E531 ： Plasma Physics

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

For graduate students:
None.

For undergraduate students:
Because this is a graduate level course, the enrollment is not permitted for undergraduate students except cases when the subject of this course is highly related to his/her graduate thesis research. If one is an undergraduate student and wishes to be enrolled in this course, one first need to contact the lecturer of this course for an interview. The enrollment permission may be given based on the reasons explained in the interview.

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