Thermodynamics – Aero Fluid Academy

About Course

“The science of energy — the backbone of every engine, every cycle, every system.”

From the Laws of Thermodynamics to advanced power cycles, this course builds your thermodynamic intuition from ground up — exactly the way GATE 2027 demands.

🎯GATE 2027 Focus: Zeroth to Third Laws, Carnot cycle, Rankine, Brayton & Otto cycle analysis, entropy, availability & exergy — all high-weightage topics.

📐In-Depth Understanding: P-V & T-S diagrams, phase equilibria, compressibility charts, irreversibility & second-law analysis beyond textbook definitions.

🏭Industry & Hiring: Power plants, oil refineries, aerospace propulsion, HVAC firms. Recruiters: NTPC, ONGC, ISRO, Siemens Energy, GE.

💻Software Connection: ANSYS Fluent, REFPROP, EES (Engineering Equation Solver), GT-Power — all rely on thermodynamic modeling.

9 core topics · Beginner level · GATE aligned
Fundamentals of Energy & Heat
Understand what heat, work, and internal energy really mean — and how they interact in any system.
Laws of Thermodynamics
Master all four laws — from zeroth to third — with real-world meaning behind every statement.
Properties of Pure Substances
Read and interpret P-V-T diagrams, steam tables, and phase change behaviour with confidence.
Thermodynamic Processes & Cycles
Analyze isothermal, adiabatic, isochoric, and isobaric processes — the building blocks of every engine cycle.
Carnot Cycle & Efficiency
Grasp why no real engine can beat Carnot efficiency — and how it sets the theoretical limit for all heat engines.
Entropy & the Second Law
Develop intuition for entropy — why processes are irreversible and how disorder governs real-world energy flow.
Air Standard Cycles
Solve Otto, Diesel, and Dual cycles — the foundation of IC engines and a staple in GATE numerical problems.
Vapour & Gas Power Cycles
Understand Rankine and Brayton cycles — the heart of power plants and aircraft engines worldwide.
Availability & Exergy
Learn what exergy analysis reveals about system losses — an advanced GATE topic introduced clearly for beginners.

Course Content

THERMODYNAMICS — SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES
Thermodynamics is the branch of engineering that deals with energy, heat, work, and their interactions within a system. Before understanding engines, power plants, refrigeration systems, or aerospace propulsion, it is essential to understand how a thermodynamic system behaves and how different processes change the state of that system. This topic introduces the foundation of thermodynamics by explaining: • What is a system and surroundings • Types of systems — open, closed, and isolated systems • Properties and state of a system • Thermodynamic equilibrium • Different thermodynamic processes such as isothermal, isobaric, isochoric, and adiabatic processes The goal is not just to memorize definitions, but to develop the ability to visualize how energy interacts within real engineering systems. Understanding systems and processes forms the base for all advanced topics in thermodynamics, thermal engineering, aerospace propulsion, and energy systems.

Thermodynamics — Definition

02:37
System, Boundary & Surroundings

04:34
Types of System

02:23
Approaches in Thermodynamics

02:08
Thermodynamic Properties

01:28
Thermodynamic Equilibrium

00:57
Pure Substance

00:00
Thermodynamic State, Path & Work

00:00
Reversible & Irreversible Process

00:00
Cyclic Process

00:00
Quasi-Static Process

00:00
Thermometric Property

00:00
Ideal Gas Equation

00:00
Temperature Measurement Scale

00:00
Gibbs Phase Rule

00:00
Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

00:00
Point Function & Path Function

03:42
Summary- Chapter 1

01:33

FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS — HEAT, WORK & ENERGY INTERACTION
The First Law of Thermodynamics is based on the principle of energy conservation. It states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed — it can only be transferred or transformed from one form to another. This chapter focuses on understanding how heat and work interact with a thermodynamic system and how these interactions affect the energy of the system. The topic introduces: • Concept of heat and work interaction • Internal energy and total energy of a system • Energy transfer across system boundaries • First law for closed systems and control volumes • Energy balance equations and practical interpretation The objective is to build a clear physical understanding of how engineering systems exchange and utilize energy. This forms the foundation for analyzing engines, turbines, compressors, refrigeration systems, power plants, and aerospace propulsion systems. Rather than treating equations as formulas to memorize, this chapter focuses on visualizing how energy flows and transforms in real engineering applications.

Work — Definition
Sign Convention
Types of Work
Closed System Work — Five Processes
All Processes on Same P-V Curve & Slopes
Open System Work — Five Processes
Heat
First Law of Thermodynamics
Consequences of First Law
Enthalpy, Specific Enthalpy & Flow Work
Heat Expression for Different Processes
Relationships between Cp, Cv , R and gamma
Heat vs Work — Similarities & Differences

STEADY & UNSTEADY FLOW ENERGY EQUATION
This chapter focuses on the application of the First Law of Thermodynamics to flowing fluids and engineering devices. In real engineering systems such as turbines, compressors, nozzles, boilers, pumps, and heat exchangers, fluids continuously flow while exchanging heat and work. Understanding how energy behaves in these systems is essential for thermal and fluid engineering. The chapter introduces: • Concept of steady and unsteady flow processes • Control volume approach for flowing systems • Steady Flow Energy Equation (SFEE) • Mass and energy balance in engineering devices • Application of SFEE to turbines, compressors, nozzles, throttling devices, and heat exchangers The focus is on developing the ability to analyze energy interaction in practical systems rather than only solving equations. Students will learn how pressure, velocity, heat transfer, and work interaction influence the performance of real engineering equipment. This chapter forms a critical foundation for advanced thermal systems, fluid machinery, power plants, refrigeration, and aerospace propulsion analysis.

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About Course

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Thermodynamics — Definition

System, Boundary & Surroundings

Types of System

Approaches in Thermodynamics

Thermodynamic Properties

Thermodynamic Equilibrium

Pure Substance

Thermodynamic State, Path & Work

Reversible & Irreversible Process

Cyclic Process

Quasi-Static Process

Thermometric Property

Ideal Gas Equation

Temperature Measurement Scale

Gibbs Phase Rule

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

Point Function & Path Function

Summary- Chapter 1

Work — Definition

Sign Convention

Types of Work

Closed System Work — Five Processes

All Processes on Same P-V Curve & Slopes

Open System Work — Five Processes

Heat

First Law of Thermodynamics

Consequences of First Law

Enthalpy, Specific Enthalpy & Flow Work

Heat Expression for Different Processes

Relationships between Cp, Cv , R and gamma

Heat vs Work — Similarities & Differences

Student Ratings & Reviews