AE6765: Course Overview
Catalog Description
Thermodynamics of nonreacting and reacting gas mixtures. Introductory quantum theory, statistical thermodynamics and gas kinetic theory.

Course Goals
A student taking this course should develop a working knowledge of the following subjects:

  1. Fundamentals of classical thermodynamics.
  2. Thermodynamics of nonreacting and reacting gas mixtures.
  3. Quantum states and energy levels of gas molecules.
  4. Statistical mechanics/thermodynamics of gases.
  5. Equilibrium kinetic theory of gases.
  6. Source of transport (diffusion) properties of gases.

Learning Outcomes
A student successfully completing this course will be able to:

  1. Use thermodynamic conservation laws and state relations to solve for gas properties, including equilibrium compositions, and to solve problems involving energy and energy transfer processes.
  2. Use statistical mechanics/thermodynamics approaches to determine: equilibrium population distributions of ideal gas molecular energy levels; equilibrium thermodynamic properties of ideal gas mixtures from molecular parameters; and equilibrium radiation properties.
  3. Use equilibrium kinetic theory to model gas velocity distribution functions, bimolecular collision rates (both elastic and inelastic), collision frequencies and mean free paths.
Prerequisites:
Specific areas/concepts that students should have some familiarity with are:
  1. Undergraduate level thermodynamics (thermodynamic properties, 1st and 2nd Laws)
  2. Some computer modeling capability (Matlab, Python, spreadsheets, etc.)
Texts
There are no required textbooks for this course. Here is a list of reference texts you may find helpful if you want to do additional reading.
    Introduction to Physical Gas Dynamics, Vincenti and Kruger, Krieger, 1965.
    The Principles of Chemical Equilibrium, 4th ed., K. G. Denbigh, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1981.
   Most introductory thermodynamics texts, e.g., Engineering Thermodynamics, Reynolds and Perkins, McGraw-Hill, 1977.
   Atomic Spectra and Atomic Structure, Gerhard Herzberg, Dover, 1944.
   Statistical Thermodynamics, John Lee, Francis Sears and Donald Turcotte, Addison-Wesley, 1963.
   Statistical Mechanics, Donald A. McQuarrie, Harper and Row, 1976.