2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Integrating Thermodynamics II Concepts into Heat Transfer Courses: A Curriculum Adaptation Strategy

Presented at Mechanical Engineering (MECH) Session 1: Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer Pedagogy

In the recent years, engineering courses and programs have witnessed a noticeable evolution, especially in the number of credits and courses required which has been decreased.

This has allowed students to widen the range of the courses of their interest when selecting them in their study plan, in addition to that students are being able to select elective courses that align with the continuous industrial advances. Previously, for instance, Thermodynamics II course was a required course in the Mechanical Engineering Programs, which has now become an elective one. However, the basic principles covered in Thermodynamics II course, specifically entropy and irreversibility should not be excluded form the basic concepts of engineering.

In addition, integrating courses related to the thermal sciences field like Design of Thermal Systems represents an added value in the engineering curricula, however, owed to the reduced number of credits strategies adopted by the academic institutions, this course is only considered an elective course for the senior level students. This scenario has imposed two main challenges. On one hand, the basic concepts of Thermodynamics should be precisely covered, and on the other hand, finding ways to deliver integrated thermal sciences content in a curriculum, where such a course cannot always be assigned.

One method to overcome these challenges is to integrate the thermodynamic principles within other courses, such as Heat Transfer, which represents a strong candidate, since it requires the Fluid Mechanics course as a prerequisite and it comes after the Thermodynamics I course. Therefore, concepts like irreversibility and availability can be easily integrated within the course.

For example, during the Fall 2024 semester at Kansas State University, these thermodynamic principles were integrated within a course project assigned to senior students enrolled in the Heat Transfer course. This strategy had some limitations, although the project addressed principles of irreversibility and entropy generation, which are key elements typically covered in the Thermodynamics II course. Additionally, students worked in groups, so not all individuals achieved the same level of understanding.

Therefore, lectures notes may offer a more dependable method to delivering this content, especially when discussing topics like heat exchangers, a topic that requires deep knowledge of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer as well. This lecture-based method was successfully applied at Rafik Hariri University in Lebanon, where two structured 50-minute lectures were dedicated to integrating thermodynamic principles within the heat exchanger module. Students were then assessed through related questions on the final exam, and the approach proved both effectiveness and reliability.

Authors

Mohammadhosein Ghasemi Baboly Kansas State University [biography]

Dr. Baboly received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico in July 2016, after which he joined Kansas State University as a postdoctoral fellow. His research in MEMS has centered on the simulation, fabrication, and characterization of acoustic metamaterials, commonly referred to as phononic crystals (PnCs). In August 2017, he began his academic career as an assistant professor at the University of Jamestown in North Dakota. With a background that bridges engineering, physics, and applied mathematics, his expertise spans machine design, mechanics of materials, manufacturing engineering, materials science, and dynamic systems. He returned to Kansas State University in August 2019, where he currently serves as a teaching faculty member.
Manar Younis Rafik Hariri University [biography]

Dr. Manar Younis is a lecturer in the Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Department at Rafik Hariri University, where she teaches courses on Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, HVAC, Fluid Mechanics, and Thermal Fluid Sciences. She holds a PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut, a ME in Mechanical Engineering (Applied Energy) degree from the same institution, and a BE in Mechanical Engineering from Beirut Arab University.
Her research primarily focuses on the thermofluid track, specifically enhancing the performance of solar stills to increase water yields. Additionally, she has worked extensively on improving thermal comfort for occupants through passive integrated systems. Dr. Younis has made significant contributions to the field with several publications, including experimental and optimization studies on solar stills and renewable biofuel production.
Before joining RHU, Dr. Younis taught at Phoenicia University, where she was involved in teaching courses such as HVAC, Mechanical Design, Manufacturing Processes, Instrumentation and Measurements, Thermodynamics, AutoCAD, CAD CAM, and more. She also supervised several final-year projects, providing students with invaluable guidance in their academic and professional development.
Kamel Ghali Dr. Phoenicia University [biography]

Dr. Kamel Ghali earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University in August 1992, after completing both his M.Sc. (May 1988) and B.Sc. (December 1986) in the same field at the same institution. He also holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the American University of Beirut, obtained in February 1983. Over the years, Dr. Ghali has built a distinguished academic and professional career, serving as a Visiting Professor and Research Scholar in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Kansas State University and later as a Tenured Full Professor at the American University of Beirut from 2019 to 2024. Between 2012 and 2019, he held the position of Professor and Chairman of the Mechanical Engineering Department at AUB, where he led major curriculum developments and successfully secured ABET reaccreditation.
In addition to his academic leadership, Dr. Ghali gained industry experience as a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Dar Al-Handasah Consultants from 1994 to 1997. His early research career included postdoctoral appointments as a Research Associate in Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University (1993–1994), where he focused on human body modeling, and at Kansas State University (1992–1993), where he conducted research on air quality and indoor air velocity measurement. He also worked as a research assistant at the Institute for Environmental Research at Kansas State University from 1990 to 1992. Dr. Ghali’s expertise encompasses air quality, indoor air velocity measurement, human body modeling, energy conservation in buildings, poultry housing, and human well-being in both indoor and outdoor environments. With more than 300 publications in international journals and conferences, he has been recognized among the top 2% of global scholars in a study conducted by Stanford University.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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