ABET 2000
Integrated Thermal and Fluid Curriculum
Integrated Thermal Fluid Course Sequence
Traditionally, the thermal sciences have been categorized
into three major subject areas: Thermodynamic, Heat Transfer and Fluid
Mechanics, where they are usually taught as separate entities over three or more
semesters. However, this sequential
education process teaches discipline-specific component engineering rather than
systems engineering. It leads to
the misconception that an engineering education is simply the completion of a
collection of courses. Therefore,
we designed this new thermal course-sequence with the aim of correcting this
deficiency. The new two-semester
course sequence, Thermal Fluids I & II, replaces the four core thermal
science courses: Thermodynamics, Applied Thermodynamics, Heat transfer and Fluid
mechanics. The Thermal and Fluids I & II sequence was taught for the first
time in the 1998, fall semester. The
weekly schedule of this new class includes three one-hour lectures plus one
three-hour workshop session.
Laboratory Integration
In addition, we are integrating the thermal and fluids laboratory course with the integrated thermal fluids course sequence. The laboratory course used to be taught after the completion of the thermal core courses and placed an emphasis on the introduction of experimental techniques, instrumentation, report writing and to reinforce students’ understanding of thermal-related subjects. In the new format, the laboratory course will be taught at the same time with the thermal fluids II course and provide the “just-in-time” hands-on experience for students. The laboratory sequence will be arranged to follow as closely as possible the teaching progress in the integrated thermal class. The total integrated learning concept begins by first presenting fundamental principles from a system approach, followed by demonstrations of how these theories can be applied to practical applications and finally, providing students with hands-on laboratory experience.
Technical Electives/Capstone Design
To complete the integration, technical electives and capstone design courses are also revised. The required technical electives are increased from two to four to provide the flexibility to our senior students so that they can either diversify their educational background or focus their interest in a specific discipline. Four core technical elective courses in the thermal and fluids area is listed in the following as a reference. In addition, the design course is changed from the old one-semester course to the current two-semester format. The new class covers all aspects of engineering design, including problem formulation, conceptualization, design planning, optimization, reporting and implementation, etc. The class emphasizes “In-Practice” learning by going through the entire design cycle on specific projects. A team-based project is assigned to a group of students at the beginning of the first semester. A complete hands-on implementation of the design process will be achieved at the second semester. It is our belief that through this two-semester design program, students can finally integrate their engineering knowledge, skills and creativity gained throughout the years into the realization of a final design product.
Core Courses
EML 4304L Experimental Methods in Thermal and Fluid Sciences
Technical Electives
EML 4421 Fundamentals of Propulsion Systems
EML 4512 Thermal-Fluid Design
EML 4450 Energy Conversion System
EML 4711 Introduction to Gas Dynamics