Semester-wise syllabus for an M.Tech in Thermal Engineering

Semester 1: Core Foundations 

Courses: 

1. Advanced Thermodynamics 

   - Laws of thermodynamics, exergy analysis, gas mixtures, and real gas behavior. 

2. Heat Transfer 

   - Conduction, convection, radiation, phase change, and heat exchanger design (LMTD, NTU methods). 

3. Fluid Mechanics 

   - Viscous flow, boundary layer theory, turbulence modeling, and compressible flow. 

4. Energy Conversion Systems 

   - Power cycles (Rankine, Brayton, combined cycles), cogeneration, and waste heat recovery. 

5. Research Methodology 

   - Technical writing, statistical tools (MATLAB/Python), and experimental design. 

Labs: 

- Thermodynamics Lab (steam table experiments, calorimetry) 

- Heat Transfer Lab (thermal conductivity, heat exchanger performance) 

Semester 2: Advanced Topics & Electives 

Core Courses: 

1. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) 

   - Finite volume method, turbulence modeling (k-ε, k-ω), and ANSYS Fluent/COMSOL simulations. 

2. Combustion Engineering 

   - Combustion kinetics, flame propagation, emission control (NOx, CO), and burner design. 

Electives (Examples): 

- Renewable Energy Systems (solar thermal, biomass, geothermal) 

- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (vapor compression, absorption cycles) 

- Automotive Thermal Systems (engine cooling, battery thermal management) 

- Advanced HVAC Systems (energy-efficient building design) 

- Nuclear Engineering (reactor thermodynamics, safety protocols) 

Labs: 

- CFD Lab (ANSYS Fluent/COMSOL for heat transfer simulations) 

- Combustion Lab (flame speed measurement, emission analysis) 

Semester 3: Specialization & Project Work 

Electives (Examples): 

- AI/ML in Thermal Systems (predictive maintenance, optimization) 

- Sustainable Energy Systems (green hydrogen, carbon capture) 

- Cryogenic Engineering (liquefied gas storage, superconductors) 

- Microscale Heat Transfer (MEMS, nanofluids) 

- Energy Storage Systems (thermal batteries, molten salt storage) 

Project/Dissertation: 

- Phase 1: Topic selection (e.g., solar thermal plant optimization, battery cooling for EVs, combustion efficiency enhancement), literature review, and proposal. 

- Seminars: Presentations on trends like Industry 4.0 in thermal systems, waste-to-energy technologies, or AI-driven energy management. 

Semester 4: Thesis/Project Completion 

Thesis/Project:

- Full-time focus on simulations (CFD/FEA), experimental work (e.g., prototype testing), or industrial case studies. 

- Final documentation, viva voce defense, and collaboration with industries (e.g., Tata Power, NTPC, HVAC firms). 

Additional Components: 

- Industrial Internship (optional, with energy firms, automotive companies, or R&D labs like BHEL, ISRO). 

- Workshops: Training in Aspen Plus (process simulation), Thermal Desktop (spacecraft thermal modeling), or EnergyPlus (building energy analysis). 

Elective Tracks (Specializations): 

1. Energy Systems & Sustainability

   - Renewable integration, carbon-neutral technologies, and life-cycle assessment. 

2. Thermal System Design 

   - Heat exchangers, HVAC, and automotive thermal management. 

3. Advanced Combustion & Propulsion

   - Rocket engines, gas turbines, and low-emission combustion. 

4. Computational Thermal Engineering 

   - CFD, AI/ML-driven optimization, digital twins.