Thermal Systems Modeling
Thermal Systems Modeling covers the analysis and design of engineering systems using thermodynamics, economics, heat transfer, and fluid flow.
Summary
Past student reviews · Sanford Klein, Michael Cheadle
Homeworks required hard thinking rather than tedious repetition. One student noted extensive time spent on homework and office hours, though they found the grading process difficult to understand.
What you’ll be able to do
Explain the importance of advanced thermodynamics topics and novel cycles
Apply the first and second laws of thermodynamics to complex thermal systems and system components
Integrate rate mechanisms (i.e., heat transfer and fluid dynamics), economics, and optimization into the design and analysis of thermal systems
Communicate the inherent uncertainty in the design and analysis of thermal systems
Analyze yearly thermal system performance driven by weather variations
Use a computer effectively to solve engineering problems
Work in teams to solve open-ended design problems pertaining to thermal systems
Source: UW Guide
Grade history
↗All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
Prerequisites
Course mapM E 364 or concurrent enrollment, or graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students
- ME 364 · prior_or_concurrent
- graduate/professional standing
- member of Engineering Guest Students
This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Prerequisite text tree
- Any of
- ME 364 · prior_or_concurrent
- graduate/professional standing
- member of Engineering Guest Students
Professors
Spring 2027No instructors recorded for this selection.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
MICHAEL CHEADLE is recorded teaching in Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2026. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
SANFORD KLEIN is recorded teaching in Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
|---|
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.
Meeting source records
No records available.
Student experience
the class
Past student reviews · Sanford Klein
Students described past instruction as engaging and rigorous, with professors who helped them think like engineers. Reviews highlighted relevant examples and a fair, challenging approach to problem-solving.
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 3.52 GPA, 78.6% A/AB (n=28 letter grades); Spring 2025: 2.72 GPA, 37.5% A/AB (n=16 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.32 GPA, 60.0% A/AB (n=25 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Past student reviews · Sanford Klein, Michael Cheadle
Homeworks required hard thinking rather than tedious repetition. One student noted extensive time spent on homework and office hours, though they found the grading process difficult to understand.
Past student reviews · Sanford Klein, Michael Cheadle
Michael Cheadle took time to walk students through challenging concepts. Sanford Klein’s tests were described as tricky but fair, provided students attended class and prepared for the material.
Topics
- Advanced thermodynamics topics and novel cycles
- Applications of thermodynamics, economics, heat transfer, and fluid flow
- Yearly thermal system performance driven by weather variations
Skills
- Apply first and second laws of thermodynamics to complex thermal systems
- Integrate heat transfer, fluid dynamics, economics, and optimization in thermal system design
- Use computers effectively to solve engineering problems
- Collaborate in teams on open-ended thermal system design problems
Grades
Latest available · Spring 2026— not enough history to project Spring 2027.
Grade distribution · % of letter grades
Grades over time
Through Spring 2026
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.
Sources & history
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.
Selected offering source records
No offering records for the selected term.
Raw records
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Student reviews
Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.
Read original reviews
Grade history
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesRecorded 2026-10-14
Model outputs & technical records
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
Model & dataset provenance
{
"model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
"model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
"task_version": "17",
"output_id": "ce14bdf0f5736462e3b760cfe3f87faeec08d85e951eeccc413fb4e119288f27",
"requirements_status": "needs_review",
"dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}