Thermodynamics for living systems

Abstract

A thermodynamics course specifically designed for the engineering disciplines that deal with living systems is described. At most universities, thermodynamics courses are taught in the mechanical engineering and chemical engineering departments. Traditionally, these courses give little attention to the reactions that occur in living systems as they interact with their environment. Emergence of the Biological Systems / Biological Engineering discipline has shown the need for application of thermodynamics to living systems as early as possible in the curriculum. This foundation is essential for subsequent course work. The course outline presented here envisions a detailed treatment of the first law with problems that illustrate the application to psychrometrics. The second law is followed by a shortened treatment of cycles. Gibbs energy combines enthalpy (first law) and entropy (second law) into one state property. Introduction of this important concept must be done, but the level of this introduction has not been finalized. Ideally, the introduction to Gibbs energy will be followed by elementary application problems in plant and mammalian biosystems.