The Expert System for Thermodynamics: A Visual Tour

TEST―The Expert System for Thermodynamics―is a visual environment for solving problems, pursuing what-if scenarios and learning thermodynamics online. This text reinforces the classical approach to thermodynamic problem solving by visually engaging its user through the fundamental steps―simplification of system, idealization of working fluid, approximations, use of thermodynamic plots, and interpreting the answers―to obtain a solution without a single line of programming.

In this manual, Subrata Bhattacharjee walks the user through the dynamic problem-solving environment called TEST (The Expert System for Thermodynamics). TEST is a visual tool for solving problems, pursuing "what-if?" scenarios, conducting numerical experiments and learning thermodynamics. Created with a web of carefully designed HTML pages containing schematics, equations, pedagogic discussions, visual examples, and embedded Java applets (Daemons), TEST engages its user visually through the fundamental steps to obtain a solution without a single line of programming.

• TEST produces a comprehensive picture of the solution allowing a user to think outside the box.
• After a problem is solved, any conceivable "what-if?" scenario involving any input variable, or even the working fluid itself, can be studied. Simply change an input value and click an update button.
• Variables can be entered in any available units. The unit system (SI or English) is treated just like any other parameter, and, therefore, can be changed globally with a single click.
• TEST guides a user throughout a solution. If an input is inconsistent with previously entered variables, the daemon generates appropriate warning and refuses to accept the redundant input.
• TEST produces a detailed report of the solution separating what is given from what is calculated. It generates relevant thermodynamic plots automatically. The visual solution also generates a few lines of TEST-Code, a solution macro, that can be saved and, at a later session, loaded to instantly regenerate the solution.
• The user base of TEST is rapidly growing. With more than a thousand educators, 5000 students and 2000 professionals as registered users and countless others, who use it everyday without registration, TEST is a thoroughly tested application.
• TEST is platform independent and accessible over the web in its full capacity. There is no installation or download required. This is the only thermodynamic software that is available anywhere, anytime.

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