Thermoptim is a software which allows you to learn thermodynamics without trouble: in parallel to or even before the presentation of the theoretical bases, you can make very practical exercises on real machines applications, such as the study of a refrigerator or an electricity plant...

Learning to use this software application is very easy, as you will see by yourself. It may be added that this software application outputs very realistic results, without your being impeded by calculation difficulties, which are usually the rule in the science of thermodynamics.

Thanks to its thermodynamic function libraries, Thermoptim allows one to graphically model simple or complex energy technologies without writing a single equation, and to get very accurate results which can be visually displayed in different ways. It is in particular possible to get rid of the very limitative hypothesis of the perfect gas, and to use real fluid models.

A special audio Diapason session (in French) will introduce you to the main functionalities of this software in 20 minutes.

If your native language is not French, please be informed that this software can be run using seven different languages.

The hereunder Diapason sessions will teach you how to use Thermoptim :

• Gas turbine fed with air (in this case, the gas is considered to be perfect) (in french)
• Real gas turbine, with combustion chamber (in french)
• Steam power plant
• Refrigeration appliance (in french)

If you prefer to work with a written document , similar exercices are available in Thermoptim documentation. Written in English, they are called getting started guides:

• modelling of a combustion gas turbine
• modelling of a steam power plant 
• modelling of a vapor compression refrigeration cycle
• modelling of air conditioning cycles

We prepared to your attention a series of self-training thematic modules, which define thematic trails browsing through the available resources. They implement a progression from the bases to personal activities, some of which can be relatively complex.

Among them you will find an educational set of sessions (this special module). This module is a self-training module relative to energy powered systems based on the conversion of thermal energy. It has a special orientation concerning the main types of compressible fluid machines (i.e. compressor, internal combustion motor, gas turbine, steam turbine, refrigeration machine, combined cycle, co-generation). 

It aims at your clear understanding of the design principles for these systems, and also a perspective of the various technologies used to build them. It also aims at accustoming you to the classical methods of analysis as well to the new ones (with diagrams, software packages, etc.).

There are three main steps in this training modules :

• The first step consists of the concepts and tools acquisition. This step is devoted to reminding you the basis of thermodynamics, to the study of the basic cycles, to the discovery of the technologies used, and to the training of Thermoptim (this step lasts about 12 hours).

• The second step strengthens the concepts seen in the first one. It will give you theoretical complements on exergy and heat-exchangers. This step introduces the basic cycle variations, combined cycles and co-generation (the whole step lasts about 8 hours).

• The third step is for advanced design analysis and personal applications. In this step, the innovative cycles you will study are more sophisticated than the ones studied previously. Besides, this third step will provide you food for thought concerning the technological prospects, during mini-projects that you may study alone or within a group of students (the duration of this step depends greatly on the personal activities you will choose).