Problem-based Learning Module for Teaching Thermodynamic Cycle Analysis using PYroMat

This paper details a problem-based-learning module for addressing student difficulties in thermodynamics. Using the PYroMat open source software platform to automate more basic skills (like table look-ups and interpolation), learners are called on to design a cycle to meet certain criteria. In the module we detail here, students are provided costs and operational data for sets of candidate components from which to construct a Rankine cycle. Students are provided with fuel cost and the market value for electricity, and asked to make recommendations for the system’s return on investment. To perform their analysis, students are provided a Python code implementing the PYroMat package, which they modify and run to determine the performance of their design. We provide advice on implementation and resources to support the module in a sophmore-level class.