ME-518-nandita-2026-07-29-12-35-54
Below is a syllabus template that includes WSU's required syllabus elements. Please complete all items highlighted in yellow.
Title of Course: Cryogenics
Prefix and Number: ME 518
Semester and Year: Spring 2027
Number of Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites : ME 301, ME 303, and ME 304
Course Details
Day and Time: [tbd]
Meeting Location: [tbd]
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor Name: [tbd]
Instructor Contact Information: [office location, phone, email] [tbd]
Instructor Office Hours: [click here for best practices] [tbd]
TA Name: [tbd]
TA Contact Information: [office location, phone, email]: [tbd]
TA Office Hours: [click here for best practices] [tbd]
Course Description
Cryogenic hydrogen includes thermophysical properties at cryogenic temperatures, instrumentation, liquefaction, transfer, storage, and safety relevant to aerospace, clean energy, and high-energy physics applications.
Course Materials
Books:
- Books: Leachman, J., Wilhelmsen, Ø., Matveev, K., Cool Fuel: The Science and Engineering of Liquid Hydrogen, Oxford University Press (2024) 1/e.
- Leachman, J., Jacobsen, R., Penoncello, S. & Lemmon, E., Thermodynamic Properties of Cryogenic Fluids, Springer (2017) 2/e.
- Ekin, J., Experimental Techniques for Low Temperature Measurement, Oxford University Press, (2006) 1/e.
Other Materials: N/A
Fees: N/A
|
Course Learning Outcomes (students will be able to:) |
Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes | Assessment of the Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
|
Ability to utilize software for analysis and use of thermophysical properties, measured by group assignment and individual exam. |
Group assignment and exam |
Group assignment and exam |
|
Ability to conduct sizing calculations on cryogenic liquefaction, transfer, storage and vacuum systems, measured by group assignment and individual exam. |
Group assignment and exam |
Group assignment and exam |
|
Ability to conduct safety analysis and design of a cryogenics system, measured by group assignment and individual exam. |
Group assignment and exam |
Group assignment and exam |
| Dates | Lesson Topic | Assignment | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Context: The history of hydrogen Context: Why liquid hydrogen? |
Week 1 Assignment |
Week 1 Assignment |
| Week 2 [dates] |
Fluids: Fundamentals Fluids: Molecular structure & ideal-gas properties from statistics |
Week 2 Assignment |
Week 2 Assignment |
| Week 3 [dates] |
Fluids: Real fluid properties from equations of state |
Week 3 Assignment |
Week 3 Assignment |
| Week 4 [dates] |
Fluids: Non-traditional properties Fluids: Ortho-parahydrogen conversion |
Week 4 Assignment |
Week 4 Assignment and Exam 1 |
| Week 5 [dates] |
Materials: Fundamentals Materials: Specific heats & CTE |
Week 5 Assignment |
Week 5 Assignment |
| Week 6 [dates] |
Materials: Conductivities & thermal diffusion Materials: Structural properties (embrittlement) |
Week 6 Assignment |
Week 6 Assignment |
| Week 7 [dates] |
Cryostats: Fundamentals |
Week 7 Assignment |
Week 7 Assignment |
| Week 8 [dates] |
Cryostats: Vacuum and leak rates Cryostats: Thermal design |
Week 8 Assignment |
Week 8 Assignment and Exam 2 |
| Week 9 [dates] |
Cooling: Fundamentals Cooling: Recuperating cycle basics |
Week 9 Assignment |
Week 9 Assignment |
| Week 10 [dates] |
Cooling: Recuperating cycle optimization Cooling: Regenerative cycles |
Week 10 Assignment |
Week 10 Assignment |
| Week 11 [dates] |
Cooling: Regenerator design Transfer: Fundamentals (Two-phase flow) |
Week 11 Assignment |
Week 11 Assignment |
| Week 12 [dates] |
Storage: Fundamentals Storage: Passive system considerations |
Week 12 Assignment |
Week 12 Assignment |
| Week 13 [dates] |
Storage: Active & operational considerations Safety: Fundamentals |
Week 13 Assignment |
Week 13 Assignment |
| Week 14 [dates] |
Safety: HAZOPS & FMEA Safety: The Cool Fuel School |
Week 14 Assignment |
Week 14 Assignment and Exam 3 |
Expectations for Student Effort
For each hour of lecture equivalent, students should expect to have a minimum of two hours of work outside class
Grading [add more lines if necessary]
| Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc) | Points | Percent of Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|
|
Week 1-14 assignments |
Varies |
50% |
|
Exams 1-3 |
300 |
50% |
| Grade | Percent | Grade | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |
100-93 |
C |
77-73 |
| A- |
93-90 |
C- |
73-70 |
| B+ |
90-87 |
D+ | |
| B |
87-83 |
D |
70-60 |
| B- |
83-80 |
F |
0-59 |
| C+ |
80-77 |
Grades are rounded up to the nearest whole number one digit at a time. For example, a student with an 86.45% grade will have that grade first rounded to 86.5%, then again rounded
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
Students should make all reasonable efforts to attend all class meetings. However, in the event a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor as soon as possible, explain the reason for the absence (and provide documentation, if appropriate), and make up class work missed before the absence, if allowed. Missing class meetings may result in reducing the overall grade in the class.
Academic Integrity Statement
Academic Integrity is the cornerstone of higher education. As such, all members of the University community share responsibility for maintaining and promoting the principles of integrity in all activities, including academic integrity and honest scholarship. Academic integrity will be strongly enforced in this course. Students who violate WSU’s Academic Integrity Policy (identified in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 504-26-010(4) will receive [insert academic sanction (e.g., fail the course, fail the assignment, etc.)], will not have the option to withdraw from the course pending an appeal, and will be reported to the Center for Community Standards. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism and unauthorized collaboration as defined in the Standards of Conduct for Students, WAC 504-26-010(3). You need to read and understand all of the definitions of cheating. If you have any questions about what is and is not allowed in this course, you should ask course instructors before proceeding.
AI Policy
Students must include a statement documenting and specifying the type of AI used and how it was used on all assignments.