CE2THF: "Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer and Fluids Mechanics"

Module code: CE2THF

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Maria Vahdati, email: m.m.vahdati@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 7 November 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces the theory and application of thermodynamics and heat transfer in Architectural Engineering and prepares students for the next level of studying energy and environmental systems in the built environment. Students study and explore different forms of heat transfer, the laws of thermodynamics, the concept of entropy, thermodynamic cycles, and the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics, and develop problem-solving skills essential to good engineering practice for analysing heat transfer, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, and apply them to solve real-world engineering problems. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Explain the fundamental principles and laws of thermodynamics and explore the implications of these principles for studying the behaviour of thermal systems,   
2. Explain the fundamental principles and laws of heat transfer and explore the implications of these principles for studying the behaviour of thermal systems,   
3. Apply conservation of mass, energy and momentum to fluid flow, 
4. Describe the significance of Reynold's Number to laminar and turbulent flow, derive different forms of Bernoulli's Equation and apply to simple flow situations. 

Module content

• Heat and work – definitions.  
• Concept of a thermodynamic system and control volume 
• Laws of thermodynamics 
• Thermodynamic cycles
• Refrigeration and heat pump cycles 
• The role that heat pump technology plays in decarbonisation of heating and cooling systems and developing net zero carbon future.
• Irreversibility and availability 
• Energy balance for closed systems and steady-flow systems 
• Heat transfer mechanisms, conduction, convection and radiation 
• Steady heat conduction 
• Simultaneous heat transfer mechanisms 
• Heat exchangers 
• Fluid properties and the concept of pressure 
• Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids 
• Incompressible viscous flow 
• The motion of a fluid particle, mass continuity, laminar and turbulent flow 
• Momentum equation 
• Application of fluid mechanics in hydropower and wind turbines 
• Bernoulli's Equation 
• Pressure losses in pipes, Reynold's Number, friction factor.   

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The main teaching and learning methods are lectures, tutorials, class discussions and problem-solving classes. There will also be non-assessed presentations. Laboratory work will be included to demonstrate some of the thermotical principles. 

Study hours

At least 34 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs