CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & COMPUTER SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING Spring 2010

ME 491: THERMAL-FLUIDS LABORATORY

I. INSTRUCTOR Name: Manuel Magrane Office: Hours By Appointment Phone: ME Dept. Office 818-677-2187 (messages only) Email: hbmen026@csun.edu II. TEXT None – copies of laboratory procedures will be handed out in class. You should have the ME 335 text (Figliola and Beasley, Theory and Design for Mechanical Measurements) as a reference for the error analysis. Some of the lecture and class material may stem from Experimental Methods For Engineers (Holman, 1962). III. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course builds on the measurements fundamentals introduced in ME 335 by asking students to perform experimental studies of thermal-fluid systems behavior and performance. The available laboratory facilities include a wind tunnel, centrifugal pump, centrifugal fan, piping system, refrigerator, and a heat pump. Emphasis will be placed on written and oral documentation of results and proper data analysis techniques, including the estimate of uncertainties. Course assignments include written weekly lab reports and oral presentations. IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of the course, students should be able to: 1) Properly record data from a variety of instruments commonly used by mechanical engineers, especially those used to measure pressure, flow rate, and temperature. 2) Understand the importance of instrument calibration for minimizing systematic errors. 3) Compare experimental results with theoretical predictions, and explain differences based on physical principles.

IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES (continued) 4) Apply statistical techniques for estimating experimental uncertainties, and use these uncertainties appropriately when interpreting data. 5) Clearly document the results of an experimental project in written and oral form, using modern software tools (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 6) Work effectively in a team of student-engineers. V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING POLICIES Graded assignments will include weekly laboratory reports and a group project report. General course policies are given below. 1) All written lab reports must have a title page that includes the title of the experiment, your name, your group number, and the date the experiment was performed. The required report format will be passed out in class. 2) Due dates will be specified for all assignments. Work turned in after the due date may be penalized. The penalty will not exceed one letter grade per week. 3) The "plus-minus" grading system will be used for course grades. 4) Attendance and active participation during the lab sessions are expected. Poor performance in this category will affect your final grade. 5) Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Penalties for plagiarism can range from receiving zero points on a particular assignment to receiving an "F" in the course. Course grades will be evaluated based on the following algorithm: Measurement Experiments Reports 40% (written/oral) Thermal-Fluids Systems 50%

Experiments Reports (written/oral)

Lab Participation (punctuality, 10% attendance, etc.)

ME 491 - COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK TOPICS ASSIGNMENT 1-2 Course introduction, quick review of measurement and data analysis fundamentals; lab report format; measurement

of shaft power, pressure, temperature, and flow rate; choice of lab groups

3-5 Perform Measurement Written lab report (by each Experiments (water flow, individual) due one week after air flow, pressure, shaft power) experiment is performed, for first three experiments; fourth experiment requires group oral presentation 6 Oral Presentation of fourth experiment 7 Review of thermal-fluid fundamentals for next four experiments 8-11 Perform Thermal-Fluid Written lab report (by each System Experiments: individual) due one week after Refrigeration Cycle, experiment is performed, for first Fluid Flow Thru Pipes, three experiments; fourth experiment Lift & Drag on an Airfoil, requires group oral presentation Centrifugal Pump 12 Oral Presentation of fourth experiment 13-14 Demonstration of new equipment? (tentative)