Course description

Title of the Teaching Unit

Energy

Code of the Teaching Unit

13UST20

Academic year

2026 - 2027

Cycle

Number of credits

3

Number of hours

36

Quarter

2

Weighting

Site

Anjou

Teaching language

French

Teacher in charge

BERGER Benjamin

Objectives and contribution to the program

Energy, its use and conversion paths are at the core of all human activities. Two basic principles, the thermodynamics first and second laws, rule the fundamentals of all the aspects of energy use and conversion.
This class introduces these two laws and, combined with learning outcomes from basis in Chemistry II, presents their applications on practical problems of thermodynamics systems like compressors or turbines.
The class also prepares the students to the study of complex conversion cycles (e.g. steam cycles).

Prerequisites and corequisites

Basis in Chemistry (Chimie II)

Content

• Laws and transformations of perfect gases
• First and second principles of thermodynamics
• Work Equation for thermodynamic transformations
• Compressors and turbines : introduction and applications
• Pressure drops : introduction and applications
• Steam and Mollier diagram : introduction and applications
• Heat pumps : introduction

Teaching methods

Two types of activities :

- Lectures
- Practical classes

The lecture course is always structured into three parts. First, an introduction to current energy-related issues, aimed at establishing a concrete link between the theoretical concepts covered in the course and the global energy situation, thereby highlighting the relevance of thermodynamics to the students' future professional careers. Second, a review of the key concepts from previous lectures to refresh students' knowledge before introducing the new course material. Third, the course content itself, delivered in a traditional lecture format while actively encouraging student participation (board work, small-group discussions, Wooclap activities).




The supervised exercise sessions are conducted in small groups. Both the exercise statements and detailed solutions are provided to students so that they can complete at home any exercises they were unable to finish during the session. The objective of these sessions is therefore to engage students in solving the exercises themselves through an active problem-solving approach, as opposed to a passive method in which the instructor works through the exercises alone at the board.

Assessment method

The assessment consists of a closed-book written examination and focuses on practical questions requiring the application of the theoretical concepts taught during the lectures and illustrated through the exercise sessions.

References

MARTIN & WAUTERS, Eléments de thermodynamique technique, 1ère Ed., Presses universitaires de Louvain, 2014.
ENGEL & REID, Thermodynamics, Statistical thermodynamics & Kinetics, 2nd Ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
CENGEL & BOLES, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, McGraw-Hill, 2010.