Interactive Graphic Depiction Of Working Fluid Thermal Properties Using Spreadsheets

Maixner, Michael

doi:10.18260/1-2--140

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Previous work 5,6 by the first author at automated property lookup involved use of the Thermal Fluids Toolbox produced by Spreadsheet World, Inc. when calculating properties for water vapor. Unfortunately, this Excel™ "add-in" is not employed in the current application because it could not provide property values for a wide variety of temperatures.…”

Section: Spreadsheet Psychrometric Chartmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teaching Psychrometry To Undergraduates

Maixner¹,

Baughn²

2007 Annual Conference &Amp; Exposition Proceedings

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A mutli-faceted approach (lecture, spreadsheet and laboratory) used to teach introductory psychrometric concepts and processes is reviewed. During introductory lectures, basic thermodynamic principles are employed in the presentation of elementary psychrometric processes; various process lines are shown not only on traditional psychrometric charts, but also on temperaturevolume diagrams, with which the students are already familiar. During their first exposure to psychrometry, most students usually find the layout and interpretation of the psychrometric chart particularly difficult to comprehend; in the current approach, an interactive psychrometric chart (written in Excel™ using Visual Basic for Applications) allows students to use sliding bars to visualize in real time how lines of constant relative humidity, specific volume, and wet bulb temperature vary; the effect of varying barometric pressure may also be viewed by using another sliding bar. Students are then required to construct their own psychrometric charts in a parametric fashion, producing lines of constant relative humidity, specific volume, and wet bulb temperature; these charts are produced for the prevailing barometric pressure, rather than for standard atmospheric pressure.The instruction is supplemented with a simple laboratory, wherein wet and dry bulb temperatures are measured inside the classroom and outside, and which are, in turn, used to calculate relative humidity, specific humidity, and other parameters associated with the building air conditioning process. An integral part of this laboratory is that the psychrometric chart previously produced by each student in Excel™ is employed in the analysis-since it was constructed for the barometric pressure which was recorded during the experiment, students may use it in their data reduction, rather than the chart provided in their text (for standard atmospheric pressure). This synergistic approach has been found to enhance student understanding of the basic psychrometric and HVAC processes.

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Section: Spreadsheet Psychrometric Chartmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teaching Psychrometry To Undergraduates

Maixner¹,

Baughn²

2007 Annual Conference &Amp; Exposition Proceedings

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“…Other initiatives aimed at teaching computational heat transfer are described in references [4] and [5]. The use of spreadsheets is a good teaching tool for getting the students involved in the calculation process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive Computer Program For Transient Conductive Heat Transfer Concepts

McMasters

Sexton

Somerton

et al.

2007 Annual Conference &Amp; Exposition Proceedings

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An interactive computer based learning tool for undergraduate students enrolled in Heat Transfer courses has been significantly expanded. A previous version of the program provided graphical depictions of two-dimensional steady state conduction solutions for cases where temperature boundary conditions were prescribed. The present research expands the features of the program to include prescribed heat flux boundary conditions as well as convective boundary conditions. Moreover, the expanded program also handles transient cases so that students can watch temperature changes in a material on a real-time basis. The addition of these boundary conditions also now allows one dimensional problems to be solved by specifying a zero heat flux condition on opposing sides of the body.The solutions for the original version of the program were generated using a code developed for Sandia National Laboratory which was DOS based. The revised program has replaced this computational kernel with a numerical solution which is programmed as part of the native Visual Basic code. This feature allows the program to run more seamlessly, without the need for a black DOS window to appear on the screen.The interface between the student and the kernel program allows visualization of the temperature field generated in the two-dimensional body. The program is used by students on an individual basis as a supplement to their usual textbook, homework and class involvement.Input from the students is prompted via text boxes in a Windows based program. Coincident with the expanded features of the program is a need for considerably more input on the part of the students. The six input items required by the user in the previous program version have been expanded to 17, with a corresponding number of input boxes provided for that purpose. Additionally, there are two "calculate" buttons which start the program running, one for steady state problems and one for transient problems.Students enrolled in the Heat Transfer courses at two separate institutions are given instruction sheets for operating the program, including prescribed temperature values for the boundaries. They are then asked to provide a written response to questions, requiring them to explain where the heat flux is the largest and the smallest in the body. An evaluation of the program by the students is included in the study as a means of determining the effectiveness of the program. Since the learning atmosphere in each of the two schools included in this study is very different, the reaction from the students at each of these schools is of special interest.

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A Visual Approach To Teaching Properties Of Water In Engineering Thermodynamics

Bakrania¹

2020

AEE Journal

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Overcoming the challenge of using the steam tables can be considered a rite of passage in undergraduate thermodynamics courses. Students often circumvent the use of steam tables and resort to simpler digital alternatives to retrieve properties. In fact, the steam tables and their digital relatives that supply numeric property values fail to reinforce the fundamentals; namely, how state properties are related to each other. Supplying state properties without context adds to the abstractness of water properties which lack a simple equation of state. Instead, research has demonstrated that replacing the steam tables with property charts can greatly improve student's ability to visualize property relationships and facilitate the creation of a mental model of the complicated equation of state for water. Recognizing these results, the traditional use of the steam tables for property retrieval was entirely replaced by property charts for an engineering thermodynamics course. To leverage the highly visual nature of the property charts, animated videos and related multimedia resources were produced and used in a flipped classroom setting for instruction. This new implementation greatly reduced instructional load and allowed deeper engagement with the concepts taught. The new instructional practice was evaluated by a controlled impact study and student feedback. The evaluation study showed that the students who used property charts as their primary reference were significantly better at predicting water property trends when compared to students who relied on the steam tables accompanied by property chart sketches. When surveyed, students favored property charts and the supplementary videos for their ability to visually convey the complex relationships. The results support existing research and make a strong case for revising thermodynamics pedagogy within engineering. By embedding an intuitive and evidence-based approach to teach the engineering fundamentals, educators can ensure that students are better equipped for professional practice.

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Interactive Graphic Depiction Of Working Fluid Thermal Properties Using Spreadsheets

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Teaching Psychrometry To Undergraduates

Teaching Psychrometry To Undergraduates

Interactive Computer Program For Transient Conductive Heat Transfer Concepts

A Visual Approach To Teaching Properties Of Water In Engineering Thermodynamics

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