Title: Development of a practical engineering project and heat transfer solver to support a thermal-fluid system design course at NTU

Authors: F.L. Tan, S.C. Fok

Addresses: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore. ' The Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Abstract: This paper describes the utilisation of industry design projects to engage students in the practical utilisation of thermal-fluid knowledge. The proposed framework in a new thermal system design course is discussed based on the development of cooling systems for electronic devices such as computers and personal digital assistants. By incorporating practical design into the thermal-fluid courses, it is hoped that the curriculum would enhance the skills of the graduates and equip them with practical knowledge to function with competencies and creativities in the engineering profession.

Keywords: industrial design; practical learning exercises; computer-aided learning; CAL; heat transfer solver; large class size teaching; large classes; thermal-fluid courses; Singapore; cooling systems; electronic devices; practical engineering; engineering projects; engineering education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2008.017380

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2008 Vol.18 No.2, pp.264 - 278

Published online: 02 Mar 2008 *

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