Topic outline

  • Fundamentals of Thermodynamics

    Credits: 8 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    This course provides a basic introduction to classical thermodynamics. Fundamental concepts are defined and then used to state the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics and the ideal gas laws. The laws are then illustrated through applications to various practical steady-state engineering systems. This course would be of interest to persons needing to review fundamental thermodynamic concepts and applications or to learn them for the first time.

    Topics:

    • Isolated, closed, and open systems; work and heat; pressure, temperature, enthalpy, entropy, specific volume, and their relations as expressed in steam tables; cyclic, reversible, irreversible, adiabatic, and isentropic processes; Carnot cycle, Carnot efficiency, and Rankine cycle.
    • Characteristics of property diagrams such as saturation, superheated, critical point, and quality
    • Identification of the properties of a thermodynamic system
    • Use of steam tables/property diagrams to relate the various properties to each other
    • Identification of the basic thermodynamic concepts to be used in the analysis of particular engineering components
    • The First and Second Law of Thermodynamics and the ideal gas laws and how to apply them to the analysis of practical engineering thermodynamic systems such as pumps, turbines, condensers, and heat exchangers

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: for civil, construction, structural, nuclear, and mechanical engineers working with equipment for power generation, energy conversion, heat transfer, fluid flow, and process manufacturing.
    Publication Source: US Dept. of Energy

    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)

    • Topic 1