The Dynamics of Heat

Based on courses for students of science, engineering, and systems science at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences at Winterthur, this text approaches the fundamentals of thermodynamics from the point of view of continuum physics. By describing physical processes in terms of the flow and balance of physical quantities, the author achieves a unified approach to hydraulics, electricity, mechanics and thermodynamics. In this way, it becomes clear that entropy is the fundamental property that is transported in thermal processes (i.e., heat), and that temperature is the corresponding potential. The resulting theory of the creation, flow, and balance of entropy provides the foundation of a dynamical theory of heat.

This extensively revised and updated second edition includes new material on dynamical chemical processes, thermoelectricity, and explicit dynamical modeling of thermal and chemical processes. To make the book more useful for courses on thermodynamics and physical chemistry at different levels, coverage of topics is divided into introductory and more advanced and formal treatments. Previous knowledge of thermodynamics is not required, but the reader should be familiar with basic electricity, mechanics, and chemistry and should have some knowledge of elementary calculus. The special feature of the first edition -- the integration of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and chemical processes -- has been maintained and strengthened.

Key Features:

·         First revised edition of a successful text/reference in fourteen years

·         More than 25 percent new material

·         Provides a unified approach to thermodynamics and heat transport in fundamental physical and chemical processes

·         Includes worked examples, questions, and problem sets for use as a teaching text or to test the reader's understanding

·         Includes many system dynamics models of laboratory experiments

From the reviews of the second edition:

“A vigorous approach to the exposition of the fundamentals of thermal-fluid sciences by employing a unified approach to thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and electricity. Fuchs (Zurich Univ. of Applied Sciences, Switzerland) argues, with extensive topical depth … can be used to describe the dynamics of thermal energy (heat) transport. This flow and balance of entropy model is featured throughout the text with a system dynamics approach. … an invaluable self-study reference for advanced readers in the field. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers/faculty and professionals in thermal-fluid sciences.” (B. Tao, Choice, Vol. 48 (11), August, 2011)

“This is … a book devoted to a wide description of theories concerning thermodynamics. … the author takes care to explain the theories with lots of figures, illustrations and examples. … Each chapter is completed with many exercises, the main parts of the associated solutions being gathered at the end of the book. … it will be surely accessible to different kinds of students and researchers. Both will find here some deep and modern models which can be applied in very different situations.” (Alian Brillard, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1214, 2011)