📚 Suggested Activities
Interactive Resources for Energy Systems: A New Approach to Engineering Thermodynamics (2nd Ed.)
🌟 How to Use These Resources
This page organizes all interactive learning materials by activity type, making it easy to find exactly what you need:
✅ Key Issues — Core concepts to master for each chapter
✅ Guided Explorations — Step-by-step Thermoptim simulations
✅ Worked Examples — Complete real-world case studies with solutions
✅ Self-Assessment — Interactive exercises to test your understanding
✅ Online Course 2022 — Structured learning pathway (Modes 1-2)
“No more searching through appendices—all practical resources are organized here by learning activity.”
🔑 20 Key Issues by Chapter
Key issues are the most important concepts whose understanding is essential to fully take advantage of the book. Below is a summary with the number of corresponding self-assessment activities.
🔹 Complete Key Issues Details in this page (Full descriptions with activity links)
| Chapter | Key Issues | Self-Assessment Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 2. Components & Functions | Architecture and operation of basic cycles Four basic functions Basic notions First Law, energies in processes Reference processes, imperfection factors | 9 3 2 1 1 |
| 3. Simple Cycle Modeling | Fluid properties Thermodynamic charts Efficiencies Identification of basic cycles in (h, ln(P)) charts | 3 6 2 3 |
| 4. Combustion & Heat Exchangers | Main difference between diesel and gasoline engines Fundamental combustion notions Effectiveness-NTU method Fundamental heat exchanger notions | — 2 1 — |
| 5. Steam System Components | Architecture and configuration of a boiler | 2 |
| 6. Entropy & Exergy | Converting heat to work, Carnot cycle Entropy chart Exergy balance spreadsheet | 2 2 — |
| 8. Steam Power Variants | Practical difference between isentropic and polytropic approaches | 1 |
| 9. Internal Combustion Engines | Reciprocating internal combustion engines | 4 |
| 13. Advanced Topics | CTP Lib thermodynamic properties server Modeling of the pair LiBr-H₂O External class FlashBrine | — — — |
Self-assessment activities are available in this section of the Thermoptim-Unit portal.
🧭 26 Guided Explorations by Chapter
Interactive step-by-step simulations using Thermoptim. Each exploration includes pre-built models and parameter adjustment exercises.
🔹 Complete Guided Explorations page (All explorations with detailed descriptions)
🔹 Thermoptim-Unit Portal: All Explorations
| Chapter | Number of Explorations | Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Basic cycle configuration |
| 3 | 1 | Discovery of Thermoptim (exploration S-M4-V1) |
| 4 | 2 | Gas turbine with combustion (S-M3-V8-2) Air-water exchanger sizing (DTNN-1) |
| 5 | 1 | Simple steam plant condenser (S-M3-V7-2) |
| 6 | 4 | Steam plant in entropy chart (C-M4-V8) Gas turbine in entropy chart (C-M4-V9) Refrigeration in entropy chart (C-M4-V10) Exergy balance and productive structure (BESP-1, BESP-2) |
| 7 | 2 | Heating network optimization (OPT-1) Dual pressure combined cycle (OPT-2) |
| 8 | 4 | Reheat cycles (C-M1-V3) Regenerative Rankine (C-M1-V5) PWR nuclear plant (C-M1-V8) Closed ammonia ORC (C-M1-V9) |
| 9 | 4 | Regenerative gas turbine (C-M2-V2) Staged compression (C-M2-V3) Turbojet (C-M2-V4) Industrial gas engine (C-M2-V5b) |
| 10 | 3 | Single pressure combined cycle (C-M3-V1) Dual pressure optimization (OPT-2) Industrial cogeneration (C-M3-V2) |
| 11 | 2 | Total injection refrigeration (C-M3-V3) Ejector refrigeration (C-M3-V4) |
| 12 | 2 | Summer air conditioning (CLIM 1) Winter air conditioning (CLIM 2) |
| 15 | 2 | High temperature nuclear cycle (C-M4-V4) Oxycombustion cycle (C-M3-V5) |
| 16 | 1 | Micro-turbine solar concentrator (C-M4-V1) |
🛠️ 8 Worked Examples by Chapter
Real-world case studies with complete solutions and downloadable Thermoptim models.
🔹 Complete Worked Examples page (Detailed case studies with models)
| Chapter | Number of Examples | Example Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | Refrigeration machine condenser with cooling tower |
| 8 | 1 | Extraction of noncondensable gases from condenser |
| 9 | 1 | Modeling of a Diesel engine cycle |
| 10 | 2 | Cogeneration plant with district heating Trigeneration plant modeling |
| 15 | 1 | Advanced Zero Emission Power cycle (AZEP) |
| 16 | 1 | SEGS solar plant modeling |
| 18 | 1 | Diapason sessions on fuel cells (S61-S65) |
📝 Self-Assessment Activities
Test your understanding with four types of interactive exercises providing immediate feedback.
Activity Types
- Drag-and-Drop on Image (ddi) — Identify and place components in diagrams
- Gap-Fill Exercises (gfe) — Complete sentences to reinforce concepts
- Categorization (cat) — Organize elements by characteristics
- Quizzes (quiz) — Multiple choice questions
Distribution by Chapter
| Chapter | ddi | gfe | cat | quiz | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 17 |
| 3 | 6 | 6 | — | — | 12 |
| 4 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 |
| 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 6 |
| 8 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 9 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 6 |
| 11 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Total | 18 | 28 | 2 | 3 | 51 |
🔹 Complete Self-Assessment Module (All exercises on portal)
💻 Online Course 2022
A complete, structured learning pathway covering Mode 1 (Light) and partial Mode 2 (Progressive).
Course Structure
Part 1: Basic Thermodynamic Cycles
- Steam power plants and Rankine cycles
- Gas turbines and Brayton cycles
- Refrigeration and vapor compression cycles
Part 2: Component Integration
- Boilers and steam generators
- Turbines and compressors
- Heat exchangers and condensers
Part 3: Advanced Topics Preview
- Combined cycles and cogeneration
- Introduction to entropy and exergy
- Efficiency optimization strategies
Course Features
✅ Self-paced learning — Study at your own rhythm
✅ Interactive Thermoptim models — Pre-built simulations
✅ Diapason audio sessions — Guided walkthroughs
✅ Integrated self-assessment — Immediate feedback
✅ No registration required — Open educational resource
🔗 Integration with the Complete Series
These activities support the 2021 edition and prepare you for advanced study:
📘 Energy Systems (2021) — Foundation
- Activities on this page: Modes 1-2
- Preparation for: Volume 1 component modeling
📗 Volume 1 (2026) — Advanced Components
- Builds on: Mode 2 activities here
- Adds: Off-design analysis, performance maps
📕 Volume 2 (2026) — Nuclear Applications
- Applies: All foundational skills
- Specializes: Nuclear plant cycles
📥 Quick Access Links
Essential Software
- Download Thermoptim — Free demo version
- Thermoptim Documentation — User guides
Resource Portals
- Guided Explorations Hub — All 45+ explorations
- Diapason Sessions — Audio-guided modules
- Self-Assessment Portal — All exercises
- Online Course 2022 — Complete structured path
Support
- Technical Support — Questions and assistance
- Report Issues — Bug reports and feedback
Connect:
📧 info@thermoptim.org
🌐 Thermoptim.org
#️⃣ #Thermoptim #ModernThermodynamics
© Renaud Gicquel, 2021.2 | Mines Paris - PSL
Updated: January 2026