Session: 10-06-01: Fluid Mechanics, Machine Learning and Predictive Simulations in Fluid Flows, Aerospace Systems, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Energy Systems, Fluid Power and Pneumatic systems, and Renewable Energy Applications I

Paper Number: 163199

Evaluating the Integration of the Second Law of Thermodynamics in Heat Transfer Course: A Heat Exchanger Project's Effect on Student Comprehension 

In recent years, engineering programs have undergone significant reforms driven by technological advancements, evolving industry demands, shifting student interests, and updates to accreditation standards. As a result, many traditional courses, such as Thermodynamics II, have been reclassified from core requirements to technical elective courses. Despite these changes, core principles such as energy conservation, entropy generation, and exergy analysis remain fundamental to the field of engineering and our understanding of the physical world. Also boosting the efficiency of the thermal systems remains a big challenge in the modern era. The Heat Transfer course offers an excellent platform to explore these advanced concepts, which were traditionally covered in Thermodynamics II while allowing to implement them in a challenging yet novel projects. By incorporating topics such as entropy generation, exergy analysis, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics into the heat transfer curriculum, students gain a more applied understanding of how these principles affect real-world systems.

One effective method to demonstrate these concepts is through the design and analysis of heat exchangers. In the fall term of 2025, a concentric tube heat exchanger project was assigned to 80 senior students as part of the Heat Transfer course. Working in groups of three, students completed the project in three distinct parts: (I) applying the principles of energy conservation and analyzing the limiting temperature change for two concentric tube heat exchanger configurations (parallel and counterflow); (II) conducting design analysis, including evaluating heat transfer rates, determining the required dimensions for the heat exchanger to achieve the desired effectiveness, and system performance; and (III) examining the effect of operating conditions on entropy generation and the overall efficiency of the heat exchanger.

The project was graded with an average score of around 75% for part (I) and close to 80% for parts (II) and (III). These results reflected the students' ability to apply theoretical concepts in a practical setting, highlighting their understanding of how various factors influence heat exchanger performance.

At the conclusion of the project, a questionnaire was distributed to assess the students' grasp of the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics as they applied to the heat exchanger. The results indicated a strong comprehension, with about 90% of students demonstrating a solid understanding of the First Law and more than 80% showing a good grasp of the Second Law. This feedback underscores the effectiveness of project-based learning in reinforcing key thermodynamic principles and broadens students’ vision to apply their knowledge to the larger scale problems.

Presenting Author: Mohammadhosein Ghasemi Baboly Kansas State University

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Baboly obtained his doctoral degree from the University of New Mexico in July 2016 and soon after came to Kansas State University as a postdoctoral fellow. His work in the MEMS area involves the simulation, fabrication and characterization of acoustic metamaterials, also called phononic crystals, or PnCs. In August 2017 he accepted a position of assistant professor at the University of Jamestown in North Dakota. With interests spanning engineering, physics and applied mathematics, his background covers the broad area of machine design, mechanics of materials, manufacturing engineering, material science and dynamic systems. He returned to K-State as a teaching faculty member in August 2019.

Authors:

Mohammadhosein Ghasemi Baboly Kansas State University
Kamel Ghali Phoenicia University