Contents:

Module – 1
1.1 Introduction: Role of Mechanical Engineering in Industries and Society- Emerging Trends

and Technologies in different sectors such as Energy, Manufacturing, Automotive,

Aerospace, and Marine sectors.

1.2 Energy: Introduction and applications of Energy sources like Fossil fuels, Nuclear fuels,

Hydel, Solar, wind, and bio-fuels, Environmental issues like Global warming and Ozone

depletion.
Engineering is the application of mathematics, empirical evidence
(theoretical), scientific principles, economic (cost), social (needs), and
practical knowledge to invent (Proverb: Necessity is the mother of all
inventions. Eg: Cooking (earlier-raw food, next stage: using fire to cook,
now-stoves, induction stoves, 4 burner stove and etc….), innovate
(modify the existing one for betterment), maintain (service life), research
(improvisation), develop machine tools systems, materials for
components (eg: plastic material for the body of computer, Aluminum for
domestic utensils and many more) and processes.
 Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering is a branch of engineering combines the principles of

physics and mathematics with material science, to design, analyze, manufacture and
maintain mechanical systems.
Technically, mechanical engineering is the application of the principles and
problem-solving techniques of engineering from design to manufacturing to the
marketplace for any object.
Mechanical engineers analyze their work using the principles of motion, energy, and
force—ensuring that designs function safely, efficiently, and reliably, all at a
competitive cost.
 Disciplines within mechanical engineering include but are not limited to:

• Acoustics • Biotechnology
• Design • Manufacturing and additive manufacturing
• Aerospace • Composites
• Energy • Nanotechnology
• Automation • Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• Ergonomics • Production planning
• Automotive • Control Systems
• Human health • Structural analysis
• And many more…..
 Contribution of mechanical engineering to the society

• Eliminates excessive usage of resources by optimizing and improving

efficiency.
• To build things/systems which make the world, a better place for living.
• Reduces human effort, in turn making life easy in various fields like
transportation, medical, agricultural, defense, power generation and etc.
Contribution of mechanical engineering to the society

Fig. Wind Mill Fig. Solar energy harvesting

Fig. Automation in Agricultural sectors

Emerging Trends and Technologies in Mechanical Engineering

Energy
 Manufacturing

Fig. Industrial Revolution

Manufacturing

Fig. Industry 4.0

Automotive

Fig. Automotive growth

 Aerospace

Fig. Aeroplane parts and their functions

Marine

Fig. Transportation of goods through sea route

Fig. Smart shipping

 Air conditioning & Refrigeration

Fig. Air Conditioner Fig. Refrigerator

 Energy

Energy is a Greek word “Energia”, meaning capacity to do work.

There are two forms of energy

• Kinetic energy – Energy possessed by bodies/machine elements under motion.
• Potential energy – energy stored in the bodies/machine elements.
 Energy sources

Energy sources

Celestial or Income
Capital energy
energy

Energy existing Energy that comes

in the earth from outer space

Fig. Energy sources

 Energy sources

Celestial energy
Capital energy
Electromagnetic
Fossil fuels
Gravitational
Nuclear fuels
Particle energy
from stars

Fig. Capital and Celestial energy

 Classification of Energy sources

Energy sources are classified based on availability and usage with respect to time and its
possibility of renewability.

1. Conventional and Non-conventional energy sources.

2. Renewable and Non-renewable energy sources.
 Hydel energy

Fig. Hydroelectric power plant

 Hydro electric power plant

Water flow
rotates shaft

Fig. Schematic of Hydro electric power plant

 The available water from hydrological cycle is stored in reservoirs at high head.
 The potential energy of such water is converted into mechanical energy by allowing it to flow
through water turbines.
 Water from the reservoir flows through penstock (pipe) and enters the nozzle where the
potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
 By coupling such turbines to electric generators, mechanical energy is converted into electrical
energy.
 Wind energy

When wind strikes an object it exerts an force an attempt to move it out of the way.
Wind turbine generate electricity. It converts the kinetic energy in the winds to mechanical energy. This mechanical energy
further be used to generate the electricity.
Wind energy is the kinetic energy of large masses of moving air currents over the earth surface (which is due to the unequal
heating of the atmosphere by the sun).
Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine

A horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) is classified as horizontal because the axis of the rotating turbine is horizontal, or parallel
to the ground.

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) is a type of wind turbine where the main rotor shaft is set transverse to the wind while the
main components are located at the base of the turbine.
• Air currents produce a force when they are deflected through an angle.
• Thus, it can be converted into mechanical energy and later as electrical energy.
• Wind speed increases with height because of reduction in drag effect of the earth surface.
• Hence, they are greater in hilly and coastal areas than on normal land surfaces.
 Blade Bearing
Speed increasing device
Wind speed and direction indicators
Wind shaft Generator
Cap Tail fin
Nose cone

Yaw arm
Wind

Wind mill tower

It consists of a rotor fitted with

blades.

As air currents flow over the blades,

the rotor rotates, thus producing
energy.
Fig. Schematic of Wind mill
 Solar Energy
• Solar energy is the power obtained by harnessing the energy coming out from the
Sun.
• Solar radiation is radiant energy emitted by the Sun, particularly electromagnetic
energy.
• Solar radiation effects change of climate.
• Solar radiation helps sustain life.
• Solar radiation comes in many forms like visible light, radio waves, heat
(infrared), x-rays, gamma rays and ultraviolet rays.
 Fig. Solar radiation spectrum

Only the portion of the spectrum (Ultraviolet, Visible light &

Infrared radiation reaches the earth’s surface.
 Solar energy conversion

Solar energy can be converted into three different forms of energy by three primary processes.

1. Helio-chemical process: Uses photo-synthesis for conversion. A biological conversion of solar

energy into chemical energy called bioenergy.

2. Helio-electrical process: Solar energy directly converted into electrical energy. Uses photo-

voltaic cells, p-type and n-type films and glasses for conversion.

3. Helio-thermal process: The rays from sunlight is converged to a point where the heat of rays

creates thermal energy. Direct conversion of solar energy into thermal energy.
 Heliochemical process

Anaerobic digestion
in the absences of
oxygen and pyrolysis
takes place to form
biogas.

Fig. Schematic of Bio-Gas plant

 Heliochemical process

Fig. Fixed Dome type Bio-Gas plant

 Helioelectrical process

Transparent
adhesive

Anti-Reflection film
Cover glass

n-type Silicon layer

Load
P-N Junction

Rear metal contact

p-type Silicon layer

Fig. Schematic of Solar Cell

Helioelectrical process

• Silicon + arsenic = n type

• Silicon + boron = p type
• Battery for energy storage

Fig. Helioelectrical Process

 Heliothermal process

Solar collector for

heating water

A home in
California in
1906

People have been harnessing solar energy for a long time!

 Heliothermal process
Absorber
(Blackened sheet of
Casing metal)

Flat glass
Sun rays (Direct
and Diffused)

Heat transfer medium

Insulation

Fig. Schematic of Flat-Plate Collector

 Nuclear Energy
• Nuclear energy is the energy in the nucleus of an atom.

• Nuclear energy is the chemical energy released during splitting/fusing of atomic nuclei.

• Nuclear reaction involves changes in the structure of nucleus.

• Due to the structural changes, nucleus gains or loses one or more neutrons and protons
and release useful energy.

• Nuclear energy is released by fusion and fission reactions.

Nuclear Fission : Uranium, Plutonium, Thorium
Nuclear Fusion : Deuterium or Tritium.
Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear fusion can be defined as a
nuclear reaction in which lighter nuclei
are combined together to form heavier
product nuclei with the release of
enormous amount of energy.

Nuclear Fission Nuclear fission involves splitting

the nucleus of heavy atoms in a
controlled nuclear chain reaction.
Fig. Nuclear Power Plant
 Fossil fuels
Formation of Petroleum, Natural gas & Coal

Fig. Formation of Petroleum & Natural gas Fig. Formation of Coal

Fig. Formation of Coal undergoing various transformation stages
 Formation of Petroleum
Ancient microscopic plants and
bacteria that live in ocean

The dead plants and fish settled in

the sea floor they mixed with sand
and silt to form organic rich mud

Under the application of heat and

pressure the organic ooze (Viscous
liquid) forms shale

Shale chemically transforms to

petroleum

The liquid petroleum which is less dense than water and lighter moves upwards through the earth crust
 Formation of Natural gas
Plankton – tiny water dwelling
organisms and algae that live
in ocean

These plants are dead and

settled in the sea floor and gets
mixed with sand and silt to
form organic rich mud

Under the application of heat

and pressure the organic
material transforms to natural
gas

Natural gas because of its low density than water and lighter move upwards through the earth crust.
 Conversion or Utilization of conventional Energy Sources

Fossil fuels
Turbine

Fig. Steam powered generator

Fossil fuel cell system

Alternating
current

Fig. Schematic of Fossil fuel system

 Bio-fuels

Bio-Fuels are a class of energy derived from living materials.

Bio-Fuels are also called combustible fuels as it is created from biomass.
The most common bio fuels are :- Ethanol, Biodiesel, Biogas etc.

Sugar cane molasses are also used to produce Ethanol.

Ethanol is blended with diesel to form biodiesel, to run

bio-diesel engines.

Fig. Corns used to produce Ethanol