An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine. There are two commonly used reciprocating heat engines found on the market today. The spark ignition (SI) engines and compression ignition (CI) engines. Due to their different ignition mechanisms, these engines have varying fuel property requirements. For instance, SI engines need volatile fuel…
There is no denying that batteries play a critical role in our modern world. Powering everything from small electronic devices to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. Understanding the underlying thermodynamics of batteries is essential for optimizing their performance, efficiency, and longevity. This article explores the fundamental principles of thermodynamics as they apply to…
In thermodynamics, Gibbs free energy (often referred to simply as Gibbs energy, symbolized as G) is a thermodynamic potential that quantifies the maximum non-pressure-volume work achievable by a thermodynamically isolated system at constant temperature and pressure. It also serves as a criterion for processes, including chemical reactions, that can occur under these conditions. What is…
Have you ever wondered how a conventional powertrain makes your car move? Today, we’re diving into the world of conventional powertrains, the beating heart of most vehicles on the road. In a conventional powertrain, an internal combustion engine (ICE), transforms the stored energy from gasoline or diesel fuel into kinetic energy within the engine. This…
What’s the difference between energy vs power? In the realm of physics and engineering, the concepts of energy and power are fundamental but often misunderstood. While they are closely related, they represent distinct aspects of physical systems. Energy is the ability to do work, while power is the rate at which work is done or…
Background The purpose of this design project is to design a cooling system for a power plant, which includes designing a heat exchanger and a piping system from the river to the condenser to cool the superheated steam from the Rankine cycle. The Rankine cycle produces 1.4MW of power from the steam turbine. The average…