FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

40450 SHAH ALAM
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
 03 – 5543 5189  03 – 5543 5160
PROGRAM : BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (Hons.) MECHANICAL (EM220)
COURSE : THERMAL ENGINEERING
COURSE CODE : MEC 551
CREDIT UNIT : 3
CONTACT HOURS : Lecture : 3 hrs/week
Tutorial : 1 hr/week
PART : 5
LECTURER : Nor Afifah Binti Yahaya
CONTACT NO. : 03-5543 6283
EMAIL ADDRESS : afifah@salam.uitm.edu.my
ROOM NO. : T1 – A18 – 10C

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course begins with the introduction of thermodynamics and heat transfer and the relations with energy utilization and
environment. The fundamentals of heat transfer mechanisms of conduction, convection, and radiation are introduced as
analytical tools to solve various energy problems. Engineering systems with major heat transfer applications is analyzed.
The principle of combustion, gas mixtures and stoichiometry are exposed to the students. Refrigeration and air
conditioning principles are introduced with respect to major energy transfer applications.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

CO1 Describe the principles of heat transfer mechanisms, combustion, refrigeration and air conditioning systems in its
fundamental aspect with relation to existing energy systems [PO1, LO1, SS1]{C2}.
CO2 Apply relationship between theoretical and practical aspects of heat transfer application [PO1, LO1, SS1]{C3}.
CO3 Analyse principles of energy mechanisms to solve a wide range of thermal engineering problems [PO2, LO3,
SS1]{C4}.

COURSE CONTENT AND COMPLETION PERIODS

Week Hours Topics Remark

1 3 hours Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer, Energy and Sustainability
- Fundamental mechanism of heat transfer: Conduction, Convection and
Radiation
- Thermodynamic laws and engineering application
- Sustainable energy management: Conventional and renewable energy;
ozone; global warming
2–4 7 hours Conduction
- Fourier’s Law of heat conduction
- Thermal conductivity of materials
- Thermal resistance circuits :plane wall and cylindrical geometries;
conduction and convection
- Differential equation for conduction : 3D equation involving conduction ,
heat coverage and heat generation; Cartesian and Radial coordinates;
boundary condition variations
- Solution of 2D temperature distribution using finite difference techniques
: internal and external nodes, heat transfer rate across surfaces.
2 hours TEST 1 Chapter
Time: 2 pm to 5 pm 1, 2
4-5 6 hours Convection
- Convective principles ; types of flow, factor of effecting the heat transfer
coefficient, Reynolds numbers
- Convection (velocity and thermal) boundary layer theory
- Forced convection over exterior surface: horizontal plates, spheres and
cylinders in laminar and turbulent flow); Reynolds analogy, Nusselt

MEC551 Thermal Engineering Page 1 of 2

 Week Hours Topics Remark
number
-
Physical mechanism of free convection. Free convection over plates and
cylinders
6-7 5 hours Heat Exchanger
- Types of heat exchangers, shell and tube, plate, cross flow, counter flow
- Overall heat transfer coefficient
- Log-mean-temperature difference method (LMTD) and correction
- Effectiveness of NTU method
- Heat exchanger design considerations
- Heat pipes principles and application
2 hours TEST 2 Chapter
Time: 2 pm to 5 pm 3, 4
9 - 11 7 hours Refrigeration Cycles
- Reversed Carnot Cycle, Refrigerators, Heat Pumps and Selection of
Refrigerant
- Vapour-Compression Cycle; Ideal, Actual Cycle with sub-cooling and
flash chamber
- Introduction to other refrigerant plant; Vapour absorption cycle and
micro (solid) cooling systems.
12 - 13 7 hours Air-conditioning Processes
- Properties of air mixtures; temperature and humidity control
- Psychometric chart
- Basic processes of air conditioning; heating, cooling, humidification,
dehumidification, adiabatic mixing
- Cooling tower: operation and application
8-9 6 hours Combustion
- Non-reacting mixture, molar and mass frictions; volumetric analysis
- The combustion triangle : fuels, oxygen, and heat.
- Combustion equation : stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric analysis
- Application of first law to combustion processes and enthalpy of
combustion
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Lecture
Lecture will be given to cover the basic principles of each topic. Additional reading materials and relevant examples will
be provided.

ASSESSMENTS

Course Work : 40 %
Complex Engineering Problem : 15 %
Quizzes : 5%
Test 1 : 10%
Test 2 : 10 %

Final Examination : 60 %
Total : 100 %

RECOMMENDED TEXT
1. Y.A. Cengel, Heat and Mass Transfer: A Practical Approach, McGraw-Hill, 3rd Edition, 2007
2. Y.A. Cengel and M.A. Boles, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, McGraw-Hill, 6th Edition 2007
3. MEC551 Thermal Engineering, McGraw-Hill, 2011

MEC551 Thermal Engineering Page 2 of 2