Thermal Applications is a course that teaches how we can study and use heat to work for us in ways such as engine development, refrigeration, and air conditioning processes.  Found on this website is the work done by Anthony Sumner for this course.

Final ePortfolio Reflective Letter

Thermal Applications is both a difficult and rewarding course. Throughout this semester Professor Ayala has challenged the class to think outside the box and apply ourselves in ways to become better engineers. The work I have done in this class has room for growth. My exam grades were overall subpar to the standard I would like to represent myself with. Tests – Google Drive

I believe that my learning is best demonstrated in Exam 2. In my time at Old Dominion I can say that I haven’t encountered a test that challenged me more strenuously than this. Ignoring the accuracy of the responses, the amount of thought and effort necessary to reach the point that I did seemed ridiculous at the time. The area in which I feel most improved in over the semester was my general understanding of the concepts of how cycles operate. In my engineering career I don’t see much of the content from Thermal Applications being applicable as I see myself continuing to work in civil engineering fields. I don’t believe that I have had an opportunity to apply what I am learning in this class into my everyday life. With that being said, that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t be able to apply some of the air conditioning principles in the final exam to my everyday life as a future home owner. Project – Google Drive If I were to retake this class again, I would tell myself to do more of the homework problems. They are a great way to practice and for something as complicated as this, only practice can lead to improvement.

Thermal Applications taught me how to think more conceptually as an engineer. Typically, I would only worry about what the question is asking and put those parts into practice. However, I have learned that knowing what I’m looking at and knowing how to solve a problem are two very different things. My biggest accomplishment in this course this semester was the completion of test 2. For me, the fact that I finished it was incredibly astounding. Tests – Google Drive. I believe that my application of formulas was something that I mastered in this class. My homework that was completed helped a lot in having a resource to look at when I needed help. HWs – Google Drive. A weakness I have is certainly my diagrams. I find it difficult to make out what I need to label when given little information about the topic, often finding myself not knowing how or where to start. That is shown best in my exams. Tests – Google Drive Before taking this course I had no idea what to expect. I certainly did not know the scope of how much goes into things like engines, gas cycles and heat pumps and refrigeration.