9.- THERMODYNAMICS & THERMOTECHNICS

Thermodynamics does not deal with heat transfer processes, it only studies the initial and final states. These processes fall within the scope of thermotechnics, which focuses on the conduction, convection and radiation processes that determine the real heat and energy fluxes.

The fundamental laws that explain thermodynamic phenomena have been studied throughout history from the study of pressure, volume and temperature relations in different systems:

• Open systems: heat and mass are exchanged with the outside (a cooling tower).
• Closed systems: only heat is exchanged with the outside (a container with a mobile plunger).
• Isolated systems: neither heat nor mass are exchanged (an ideal thermos).

Thermodynamics and thermotechnics have a large number of uses, from the power generation in thermal power plants to cooling systems, covering building engineering too.

The main practical applications in equipment are thermal machines that take advantage of the energy and heat transformation and exchange: engines, turbines, air conditioning, heating, boilers, nozzles, cooling towers…