Page 10 - Advanced thermodynamics for engineers

PREFACE – SECOND EDITION xvii

Finally, I must thank my wife, Veronica, for allowing me to spend much more time on this project
than I told her it would take. She has put up with my lack of domestic effort for almost a year, but I am
sure there will be much to do now this task is finished.
Desmond E. Winterbone
Marple Bridge, UK
October 2014

When Professor Winterbone asked me to join him in putting together the second edition of Advanced
Thermodynamics for Engineers, I was a bit apprehensive initially, because thermodynamics is
regarded as a somewhat “stagnant topic” for an engineering curriculum. However, as the exercise
developed and the contents were moulded into what I thought were self-consistent and fairly compre-
hensive format, I came to appreciate the all unifying power of the subject in terms providing a core
competency for an engineer to possess regardless of his/her chosen field of endeavour. In this respect,
I was guided tremendously by the long years I had spent in an industrial setting worrying about very
down to earth design and development, and hardware issues for a variety of applications. These
covered issues ranging from power generation and propulsion issues to chemical processing plant,
which also included biophysical and biomedical attributes. I have always been somewhat concerned
about the dismissive attitude of the practising engineer with the fundamental, all encompassing,
physicochemical framework provided by thermodynamics, while at the same time being equally
cognizant of the minimalistic utilitarian focus of the academic environment in contributing to practical
solutions that the engineer has to tackle. It is on that basis I have tried to develop a mutually compatible
viewpoint in providing contributions to resolve engineering issues i.e. literally, at an interface that tried
to set a rigorous academic basis for solving challenging engineering problems that are almost guaran-
teed to require an intimate and seamless intermeshing of fundamental theory and unique creativity and
applications.
Thus, a particular distinguishing feature of the current edition, which hopefully will come across
forcefully in relation to this book as distinct from the large number of alternatives available in the liter-
ature, is the emphasis it places on industrial utilisation. This is demonstrated in some very practically
oriented considerations that thermodynamics provides in the design and development of conversion
efficient hardware: this is so important in this day and age. I would like to further stress that, due
to my background and philosophy as succinctly summarised above, I have seen a large number of
eye-opening examples, of such considerations in industrial settings and the innovative solutions pro-
vided by engineers and scientists of old school thermodynamics, which are as relevant today as they
were then. It is with that thought that I would like to reader to appreciate the vibrancy of the subject
displaying a systematic rational basis for design and development of hardware while being true to the
principles laid by the originators of the subject/concepts.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Ayse, and my daughter, Melissa, for being a constant source
of inspiration during the effort and apologise sincerely for all the absences regarding household chores
and helping with take home assignments. Unfortunately, this probably would be the norm rather than
the exception as I have committed myself (foolishly) to a whole slew of writing and hope they will
forgive me for it.

Ali Turan
Manchester, UK
October 2014