Introduction to Thermal and Fluids Engineering

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0471268739 ISBN 13: 9780471268734

Publisher: Wiley, 2004

This innovative book uses unifying themes so that the boundaries between thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics become transparent. It begins with an introduction to the numerous engineering applications that may require the integration of principles and tools from these disciplines. The authors then present an in-depth examination of the three disciplines, providing readers with the necessary background to solve various engineering problems. The remaining chapters delve into the topics in more detail and rigor. Numerous practical engineering applications are mentioned throughout to illustrate where and when certain equations, concepts, and topics are needed.

A comprehensive introduction to thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, this title:

• Develops governing equations and approaches in sufficient detail, showing how the equations are based on fundamental conservation laws and other basic concepts.
• Explains the physics of processes and phenomena with language and examples that have been seen and used in everyday life.
• Integrates the presentation of the three subjects with common notation, examples, and problems.
• Demonstrates how to solve any problem in a systematic, logical manner.
• Presents material appropriate for an introductory level course on thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.

From the Back Cover:

The thermal sciences in an integrated approach!

In the real world, thermal systems problems don’t always conform to the rigid disciplinary lines of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. More often, you’ll need to draw from all three of these disciplines to find a solution.

That’s why Deborah Kaminski and Michael Jensen present a highly innovative and integrated approach that highlights the interconnections among thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. The text introduces these three topics early, allowing students to build a firm foundation for later chapters. Throughout the text, integrated examples and problems illustrate the interconnected nature of the three disciplines.

Kaminski and Jensen’s approach features:

• Early introduction of heat transfer and fluids, to allow application of these concepts early in the course.
• Common notation used throughout the text, to emphasize the links among thermodynamics, fluids, and heat transfer.
• Example problems that integrate the three disciplines. These problems demonstrate how to incorporate information from several different disciplines in solving problems.
• Approach sections in the example problem solutions, which identify where you are going before beginning a problem. Additionally, assumptions are stated as needed, allowing you to see the problem-solving process in action.
• Clear descriptions of physical and fundamental processes that relate to what you may observe in your everyday life.
• Over 150 worked examples and 850 homework problems.

About the Author:

Deborah A. Kaminski is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed articles in technical journals, an invited article in the New York Times, a featured article in Science, with associated podcast, and an engineering textbook published by John Wiley & Sons. After receiving her B.S. degree in Physics, Deborah Kaminski spent 5 years at the General Electric Research and Development Center in Schenectady, New York. Her work focused on heat transfer in electrical machinery, including motors, transformers, batteries, and generators. She then returned to Rensselaer for doctoral research on computational fluid dynamics in free convection. After receiving her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, she joined the Rensselaer faculty in 1985, and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 1991.