Introduction to Thermodynamics (PDF)

As the title implies, this book provides an introduction to thermodynamics for students on degree and HND courses in engineering. These courses are placing increased emphasis on business, design, management, and manufacture. As a consequence, the direct class-time for thermodynamics is being reduced and students are encouraged to self learn. This book has been written with this in mind. The text is brief and to the point, with a minimum of mathematical content. Each chapter defines a list of aims and concludes with a short summary. The summary provides an overview of the key words, phrases and equations introduced within the chapter. It is recognized that students see thermodynamics as a problem-solving activity and this is reflected by the emphasis on the modelling of situations. As a guide to problem solving, worked examples are included throughout the book. In addition, students are encouraged to work through the problems at the end of each chapter, for which outline solutions are provided. There is a certain timelessness about thermodynamics because the funda­ mentals do not change. However, there is currently some debate over which sign convention should apply to work entering, or leaving, a thermodynamic system. I have retained the traditional convention of work out of a system being positive. This fits in with the concept of a heat engine as a device that takes in heat and, as a result, produces positive work.