course-details-portlet

FENT1011

Engineering Thermodynamics

Credits 7.5
Level Foundation courses, level I
Course start Autumn 2025
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

Thermodynamic systems, properties and processes; closed and open systems, steady-state and transient processes; work and heat. The 1st law of thermodynamics; state change, internal energy, enthalpy and specific heat. The 2nd law of thermodynamics; reversible and irreversible processes, exergy and entropy. Examples related to renewable energy and use of relevant software

Learning outcome

Knowledge: Candidates must understand - Conservation laws for mass and energy, including the 1st law of thermodynamics. - Energy types such as heat and work, internal energy and enthalpy. - Entropy and the 2nd law of thermodynamics. - Causes of thermodynamic losses due to irreversibility. - Quality of different forms of energy measured as the ability to perform work. - Energy quality destruction of processes. - The ideal gas model, its assumptions, applications, and limitations. - Various thermodynamic cycles such as Carnot, Rankine, Otto, Diesel and Brayton. - The relation between energy, work, and heat in thermodynamic systems. - Operation of steam power plants, gas power plants, internal combustion engines, heat pumps, and cooling systems. - The main components of power/heat process systems, such as steam and gas turbines, compressors, pumps, heat exchangers and valves. - Fluids' ability to change state of matter (solid, liquid and gas). - Simple cycle processes and how enthalpy and entropy are used to describe such processes. - Processes related to the combustion of hydrocarbons. Processes related to moist air. Skills: The candidates must be able to - set up mass and energy balances for simple systems with energy, work, and heat. - analyze simple cycle processes. - estimate thermodynamic properties of systems using tables and graphical charts. - calculate efficiencies for power producing and power consuming processes. - describe thermodynamic processes in graphical charts (pv, Tv, Ts, ph). General competence: - Apply basic thermodynamics in renewable energy-related cases related to wind power, hydropower, biopower and thermal machines. - Basic competence included as key elements in other topics focusing on energy systems and industrial processes. - System understanding and the ability to evaluate the energy and exergy efficiencies (energy quality) of systems. - Overview of processes for power generation, heating (heat pumps) and cooling (cooling units).

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, exercises and semester project (analysis and/or laboratory exercises in groups).

Compulsory assignments

  • Exercises
  • Term paper

Further on evaluation

Examination arrangement: Written exam. Re-sit exam will be held in August. For the re-sit exam, the examination form may be changed from written to oral. Permitted examination aids according to Support material code D: No printed or hand-written support material is allowed. A specific basic calculator is allowed. Semester assignment and 2/3 of the exercises are required approved for admission to the examination. Approved compulsory activity (exercises and semester assignment) will be valid for all subsequent exams in the course.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Mechanical Engineering (BIMASKIN)
Renewable Energy - Engineering (BIFOREN)

Course materials

Principles of Engineering Thermodynamics. Moran, Shapiro, Boettner and Bailey

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
FENA1011 7.5 sp Autumn 2019
FENG1011 7.5 sp Autumn 2019
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Engineering Subjects

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Energy and Process Engineering

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code D Date 2025-12-09 Time 09:00 Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL311 grønn sone
68 candidates
Room SL310 lilla sone
12 candidates
Room SL311 lyseblå sone
96 candidates
Room SL310 blå sone
28 candidates

Re-sit examination - Summer 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code D Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.