GATE Syllabus for Thermodynamics (XE-E)

Before starting your exam preparation we advise you to first go through the syllabus of GATE Thermodynamics (XE-E) and study accordingly. In this post you can find a summarized view of GATE syllabus for Thermodynamics. Let’s take a look on GATE examination syllabus of Thermodynamics (XE-E).

Part 1: Basic Concepts

Continuum and macroscopic approach; thermodynamic properties and equilibrium; thermodynamic systems (closed and open); state of a system, state postulate for simple compressible substances, paths and processes state diagrams, on state diagrams; different modes of work; zeroth law of thermodynamics; concepts of heat and work, concept of temperature.

Part 2: First Law of Thermodynamics

Concept of energy and various forms of energy; specific heats; internal energy; enthalpy, first law applied to elementary processes, steady and unsteady flow analysis, closed systems and control volumes.

Part 3: Second Law of Thermodynamics

Limitations of the first law of thermodynamics, Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements and their equivalence; concepts of heat engines and heat pumps/refrigerators, reversible and irreversible processes; thermodynamic temperature scale; Carnot cycle and Carnot principles/theorems; Clausius inequality and concept of entropy; the principle of increase of entropy, microscopic interpretation of entropy, T-s diagrams; second law analysis of control volume; third law of thermodynamics, availability and irreversibility.

Part 4: Properties of Pure Substances

Thermodynamic properties of pure substances in solid; law of corresponding states, compressibility factor and generalized compressibility chart; liquid and vapor phases; P-vT behaviour of simple compressible substances, phase rule, thermodynamic property tables and charts, ideal and real gases, ideal gas equation of state and van der Waals equation of state

Part 5: Thermodynamic Relations

T-ds relations, Gibbs relations, Helmholtz and Gibbs functions, Maxwell relations, Joule-Thomson coefficient, adiabatic and isothermal compressibilities, coefficient of volume expansion, Clapeyron and Clapeyron-Clausius equations

Part 6: Thermodynamic Cycles

Carnot vapor cycle, Rankine reheat cycle, ideal Rankine cycle, air-standard Otto cycle, air-standard Brayton cycle, air-standard Diesel cycle, vapor-compression refrigeration cycle

Part 7: Ideal Gas Mixtures

Dalton’s and Amagat’s law s, air-water vapor mixtures and simple thermodynamic processes involving them; properties of ideal gas mixtures, dew point and wet bulb, specific and relative humidities