Autorentext

Michael Pauken, PhD, is a principal mechanical engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He specializes in spacecraft thermal control systems and interplanetary exploration. He was previously a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology, teaching courses in thermodynamics and heat transfer.

Klappentext

Understand the fundamentals of the laws of thermodynamics Thermodynamics is all about how energy is used for heat and work, serving as a cornerstone of science and engineering. Thermodynamics For Dummies, 2nd Edition simplifies this subject, making it easier for you to excel in your thermodynamics course with example problems and step-by-step guidance to prepare you for a career in an engineering or scientific field. This book not only covers thermodynamics at the macroscale - examining the world around us - but also delves into the molecular foundations that underpin all systems. Thermodynamics For Dummies, 2nd Edition provides a comprehensive and engaging introduction to thermodynamics. **Inside...

• Apply key laws to real world systems
• Know how key cycles work including Carnot, Brayton, and beyond
• Understand combustion reactions and non-reacting gas mixtures
• Discover renewable energy, power generation, and storage technologies

• Learn about important contributors in this field**

  Inhalt

  Introduction 1

  Part 1: Getting Started with Thermodynamics 7

  Chapter 1: Thermodynamics in Everyday Life 9

  Chapter 2: Laying the Foundation of Thermodynamics 17

  Chapter 3: Working with Phases and Properties of Substances 43

  Chapter 4: The Thermodynamic Duo: Work and Heat 61

  Part 2: Employing the Laws of Thermodynamics 75

  Chapter 5: Using the First Law in Closed Systems 77

  Chapter 6: Using the First Law in Open Systems 91

  Chapter 7: Governing Heat Engines and Refrigerators with the Second Law 109

  Chapter 8: The Second Law Predicts the Demise of the Universe 123

  Chapter 9: Analyzing Systems by Applying the Second Law 145

  Part 3: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Making Heat Work for You 161

  Chapter 10: Working with Carnot and Brayton Cycles 163

  Chapter 11: Working with Otto and Diesel Cycles 191

  Chapter 12: Power up with Rankine Cycles 211

  Chapter 13: Cooling Off with Refrigeration Cycles 233

  Chapter 14: Thermodynamics of Renewable Energy Systems 255

  Part 4: Handling Thermodynamic Relationships, Reactions, and Mixtures. 275

  Chapter 15: Understanding the Behavior of Real Gases 277

  Chapter 16: Mixing Non-Reacting Gases 289

  Chapter 17: Burning Up with Combustion 315

  Part 5: The Part of Tens 337

  Chapter 18: Ten Famous Names in Thermodynamics 339

  Chapter 19: Ten More Cycles of Note 345

  Appendix A: Thermodynamic Property Tables 355

  Index 367