RT Journal Article
T1 MATLAB applications for teaching applied thermodynamics: thermodynamic cycles
A1 Domínguez Toribio, Juan Carlos
A1 Lorenzo Fernández, David
A1 García González, Julián
A1 Hopson Safatli, Cynthia Elizabeth
A1 Rigual Hernández, Victoria de los Ángeles
A1 Alonso Rubio, María Virginia
A1 Oliet Pala, María Mercedes
AB The main objective of this study is to describe the teaching experience in an applied thermodynamics course, using MATLAB applications developed with MATLAB® App Designer. This course is compulsory for students in their sophomore year of the BSc in Chemical Engineering. MATLAB applications are developed to serve as tools for the teaching of thermodynamic cycles: steam and gas power, and vapor-compression refrigeration cycles. The computer applications are case-based problem generators, that is, based on chosen groups of initial variables, which values are randomly selected each time the MATLAB applications are run. Solutions of the cycle problems, which include thermodynamic cycles plotted in p–h, T–s, and p–v diagrams, and thermodynamic properties of each state of the cycle, are shown when students want to check their calculations. Moreover, the applications allow exporting initial data and solutions to an MS Excel file. The usability and learning experience of the applications were evaluated through anonymous surveys to students and the feedback of the academic staff involved in the course. The main problem, that the students referred, to was the utilization of the MATLAB applications that they considered it was not straightforward. The students believed that the utilization of these computer applications represented a significant improvement in teaching (70%) and expressed their interest in having similar materials in other degree courses (75%). After implementing the computer applications, the academic results showed an increase of ca. 16% in the pass rate.
PB Willey Online Library
SN 1061-3773
SN 1099-0542
YR 2023
FD 2023-02-13
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/105085
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/105085
LA eng
NO J. C. Domínguez, D. Lorenzo, J. García, C. Hopson, V. Rigual, M. V. Alonso, and M. Oliet, MATLAB applications for teaching Applied Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic cycles, Comput. Appl. Eng. Educ. 2023; 31: 900–915.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 9 abr 2025