📚 Engineering Thermodynamics: A Three-Volume Series

A Complete Curriculum for Energy Systems Education — From Fundamentals to Nuclear Specialization

Welcome

This portal provides access to the companion websites of a coherent three-volume series in engineering thermodynamics, authored by Renaud Gicquel and published by Routledge / Taylor & Francis Group.

Each volume is self-contained and can be read independently. A reader coming to any one of the three books without prior knowledge of the others will find all the context needed to benefit fully from it. The series structure reflects a logical progression of depth and specialization — not a prerequisite chain that must be followed in order.

The series spans introductory energy systems education through advanced professional-grade modeling of thermodynamic components and nuclear power plant cycles, all built around a shared simulation-based methodology.

The common thread across is Thermoptim, an interactive simulation environment developed over 25 years of pedagogical innovation, which enables visual, systemic modeling of thermodynamic cycles without the mathematical formalism that typically acts as a barrier to learning.

🔗 The Three Volumes at a Glance

📘 Volume 0 — Energy Systems: A New Approach to Engineering Thermodynamics (2nd Ed.)

The Pedagogical Foundation

This 2021 edition is the gateway to the series. It introduces the full spectrum of thermal energy systems through a systemic concept-first, visual-first methodology, using Thermoptim to build and analyze real cycles without requiring prior mathematical fluency.

What sets this volume apart

• CFRP approach (Components, Functions, Reference Processes): learners grasp system architecture before tackling quantitative analysis
• Three adaptive pedagogical modes serving audiences from vocational training (Mode 1) to undergraduate engineering (Mode 2) and beyond
• 18 chapters covering 40+ cycle types, from steam plants to fuel cells, from refrigeration to renewable energy
• 45+ guided explorations, 70+ self-assessment exercises, 30+ narrated Diapason sessions, and 100+ pre-built Thermoptim models
• Used in over 120 educational institutions worldwide

Who it is for

Technicians, undergraduate students, continuing education professionals, and educators seeking a comprehensive, accessible entry point to energy systems thermodynamics. No prior thermodynamics background required.

This volume is fully self-contained. Readers who choose it without intending to pursue the 2026 volumes will find a complete treatment of energy systems thermodynamics at Modes 1 and 2, with no gaps requiring material from the other volumes.

🔹 Visit the ESNA Companion Website → 🛒 Order from Routledge

📗 Volume 1 — Advanced Modeling of Thermodynamic Energy Components and Systems

Component Mastery and Off-Design Analysis

Building on the foundational edition, Volume 1 transitions from phenomenological cycle models to technological component models: realistic performance laws, geometric sizing, part-load behavior, and coupled nonlinear system simulation. This is Mode 3 — the professional level.

What this volume adds

• Technological models for compressors, turbines, heat exchangers, and pumps — including performance maps, efficiency laws, and surge margins
• Off-design simulation: predicting system behavior under varying ambient conditions, part-load operation, and startup transients
• External class development: extending Thermoptim with custom Java components, specialized substances, and feedback controllers
• Functional and exergy structures: systemic analysis of component coupling and irreversibility distribution, exergy balances
• Validated case studies (refrigeration machine, steam power plant, Flamanville 3 EPR turbine (using official industrial data))
• Introduction of NUSCLE (Nuclear Secondary Circuit Lite Emulator), developed through the EPR case study and extended in Volume 2

Who it is for

Graduate students, practicing engineers, energy researchers, and consultants who need to model real systems — not just design-point cycles — with professional accuracy.

This volume is fully self-contained. It opens with a thorough review of the thermodynamic foundations and Thermoptim methodology needed to engage with its advanced content. Readers with a solid general background in thermodynamics can approach it directly, without having worked through the ESNA edition.

🔹 Visit the AMTC Companion Website → 🛒 Order from Routledge

📕 Volume 2 — Advanced Modeling of Thermodynamic Cycles of Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear Specialization — From Reactor Physics to Plant-Level Analysis

Volume 2 applies the complete Thermoptim methodology to nuclear energy secondary circuits — one of the most complex and strategically critical application of engineering thermodynamics. It provides a systematic, comparative analysis of all major reactor families, grounded in real plant data.

What this volume delivers

• Nuclear reactor physics: fission, moderation, chain reaction control, and safety systems — accessible without prior nuclear training
• Comprehensive reactor survey: PWR, VVER, BWR, RBMK, SCWR, AGR, CANDU, SFR, HTR, MSR, SMR — covering all generations (Gen I through Gen IV)
• 11 real plant case studies: AGR, NuScale 50 & 77, ABWR, RBMK, VVER, CANDU, Superphénix, HTR-PM, Canadian SCWR, EPR Flamanville 3
• Advanced cycles: Brayton with and without IHX, supercritical CO₂, combined sCO₂-ammonia
• Multi-use applications: nuclear cogeneration, desalination (MED, MSF, RO), and high-temperature hydrogen production (HTE)
• Strategic assessment: Technology Readiness Levels and deployment scenarios across the nuclear renaissance landscape

Who it is for

Nuclear engineering students, plant engineers, energy policy analysts, and educators working on advanced thermodynamics curricula for the nuclear sector.

This volume is fully self-contained. Chapter 2 provides the basic grounding in nuclear reactor physics, and the appendices cover the key thermodynamic methods used throughout. Readers with a general thermodynamics background can engage with this volume directly, without prior study of ESNA or AMTC.

🔹 Visit the TCNPP Companion Website → 🛒 Order from Routledge

⚡ Energy Systems Coverage Across the Series

The series addresses a broad and coherent set of energy technologies. The table below indicates the depth of treatment in each volume: introductory (conceptual understanding), intermediate (cycle design and performance analysis), or advanced (component sizing, off-design modeling, or complete plant simulation).

The foundational edition (ESNA) provides the widest technology coverage. The two 2026 volumes offer greater analytical depth on selected domains.

🎓 Pedagogical Architecture: Three Modes, One Progression

A distinctive feature of the series is its unified pedagogical framework built around three learning modes, each targeting a different level of expertise and a different professional profile:

Mode 1 — Light (Streamlined)

For technicians, operators, vocational trainees, and MOOC learners

Visual understanding of system operation using (h,P) diagrams only. No entropy, no exergy. Supported by narrated Diapason sessions, guided explorations, and drag-and-drop self-assessment. Fully developed in ESNA.

Mode 2 — Progressive

For undergraduate students and practicing engineers

Builds on Mode 1 by introducing entropy and exergy after mastering the physical foundation. Spiral pedagogy: concepts revisited with increasing analytical depth. Fully developed in ESNA; extended in AMTC for component sizing and TCNPP for nuclear applications.

Mode 3 — In-Depth (Exhaustive)

For graduate students, researchers, and advanced practitioners

Complete theoretical framework, external class development, off-design simulation, and industrial validation. Introduced in ESNA, fully developed in AMTC, and applied to nuclear systems in TCNPP.

🛠️ The Common Tool: Thermoptim

All three volumes are built around Thermoptim, the graphical energy system simulation environment developed by Renaud Gicquel. Thermoptim enables:

• Visual cycle construction through a node-and-link graphical interface
• Real fluid properties for all major working fluids
• Interactive performance feedback without requiring manual equation solving
• External class mechanism: custom Java or Python components, substances, and controllers for advanced users
• Free demo version covering the vast majority of examples in all three volumes

🔧 Download Thermoptim → 📚 Thermoptim-UNIT Educational Portal →

📐 Recommended Learning Paths

While each volume stands on its own, readers wishing to progress through the full series will find the following paths natural and coherent.

Path A — From Fundamentals to Component Expertise

Ideal for graduate students and engineers seeking professional-level modeling skills in conventional energy systems.

1. ESNA — Build foundational knowledge across all energy technologies (Modes 1–2)
2. AMTC — Master technological component models and off-design analysis (Modes 2-3)

Alternatively: readers with a solid thermodynamics background can start directly with AMTC.

Path B — From Fundamentals to Nuclear Specialization

Ideal for nuclear engineering students and professionals in the power sector.

1. ESNA — Establish thermodynamic foundations and cycle intuition (Modes 1–2)
2. TCNPP — Specialize in nuclear reactor cycles with real plant case studies (Modes 2–3)

Alternatively: readers with thermodynamics experience can enter directly at TCNPP. AMTC provides useful additional preparation for the most advanced off-design modeling in TCNPP.

Path C — Complete Curriculum

Ideal for educators building a full graduate curriculum, or researchers requiring mastery across all domains.

1. ESNA → AMTC → TCNPP — The complete three-volume progression

Path D — Nuclear Entry Point (Advanced Readers)

For readers with strong thermodynamics backgrounds seeking direct access to nuclear cycle modeling.

1. ESNA (selected chapters) → TCNPP — Targeted nuclear specialization

👥 Who This Series Is For

📬 Contact and Support

For questions regarding the books, digital resources, or Thermoptim software:

📧 info@thermoptim.org

Series authored by Renaud Gicquel, former Professor at Mines Paris – PSL. Published by Routledge / Taylor & Francis Group. © Renaud Gicquel, 2021–2026.