Thermal Engineering Course: Basic & Applied | NPTEL IIT Guwahati
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 150 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Mechanical Engineering |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 26 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Fundamentals and Applications of Thermal Engineering
Are you an engineering student or professional looking to solidify your understanding of energy conversion systems? The NPTEL course "Thermal Engineering: Basic and Applied" offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is your gateway to mastering the core principles that power our world. This comprehensive 12-week program, meticulously designed and taught by Prof. Pranab K. Mondal, bridges the gap between theoretical thermodynamics and its critical applications in industries like power generation and automotive engineering.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Pranab K. Mondal
Prof. Pranab K. Mondal brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this course. An Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Guwahati, his academic journey includes a Ph.D. from IIT Kharagpur. With a primary research focus on Microfluidics and microscale transport phenomena, Prof. Mondal has co-authored over 140 publications. His teaching portfolio includes core subjects like Fluid Mechanics, Applied Thermodynamics, and Heat Transfer, ensuring you learn from an expert who understands both foundational concepts and advanced applications.
Who Should Enroll in This Course?
This course is meticulously crafted for a diverse audience seeking to deepen their expertise in thermal sciences:
- Undergraduate Students (5th semester onwards) in Mechanical, Power, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering.
- Postgraduate Students specializing in Thermal Engineering.
- Industry Professionals working in power plants, automobile manufacturing, and related sectors.
- Faculty Members in engineering disciplines looking to enhance their curriculum.
Course Prerequisites & Industry Relevance
To get the most out of this course, a solid foundation in Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Heat Transfer is recommended. The course content is directly aligned with the needs of major industries, offering significant value for:
- Power Plant design, operation, and efficiency analysis.
- Automobile Industry, particularly in engine design and performance optimization.
Detailed 12-Week Course Curriculum
The course is structured to take you from fundamental reviews to complex applied systems analysis. Here’s a week-by-week breakdown:
| Week | Topic | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review of Thermodynamics | First & Second Laws for systems, combined law applications, numerical problem-solving. |
| 2 | Steam Power Engineering | Plant description, law applications to devices, ideal cycle analysis. |
| 3-4 | Steam Power Cycles | In-depth analysis of Rankine, Reheat, and Regenerative cycles. |
| 5 | Second Law Analysis | Multi-fluid cycles and second law efficiency for steam plants. |
| 6-8 | Power Plant Components | Boilers, flow nozzles, steam turbines, condensers, and cooling towers. |
| 9-10 | Internal Combustion Engines | SI/CI engines, strokes, components, thermodynamic analysis, and efficiencies. |
| 11 | Gas Turbine Cycles | Engine types, thermodynamic cycles, combined cycles, compressor analysis. |
| 12 | Refrigeration Cycle | Vapor compression cycle analysis and problem-solving. |
Essential Reference Books
To supplement your learning, the course recommends several authoritative texts, including:
- Eastop & McConkey: Applied Thermodynamics for Engineering Technologists
- Moran & Shapiro: Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics
- El-Wakil: Power Plant Technology
- Pulkrabek: Engineering Fundamentals of the Internal Combustion Engine
- Saravanamuttoo et al.: Gas Turbine Theory
Why Enroll in This Thermal Engineering Course?
This course is more than just a series of lectures. It's a structured journey to competency in thermal systems. You will gain the ability to analyze and improve the efficiency of everything from massive power plants to vehicle engines. With a blend of theoretical rigor and practical numerical problem-solving, guided by an IIT professor, this course is an invaluable resource for advancing your academic or professional career in mechanical and related engineering fields. Enroll today to harness the principles of energy and propulsion.
Enroll Now →