Generic open steady systems include a wide range of practical devices such as nozzles, diffusers, compressors, pumps, turbines, expansions valves, boilers, evaporators, condensers, heat exchangers, mixing devices, separators, etc. Animations in VT, section 4.A-C, illustrate such systems.

Analysis of generic open systems are generally carried out in the first half of most thermodynamics textbooks.

Special topics such as combustion, psychrometry, vapor and gas power cycles, vapor and gas refrigeration cycles, and gas dynamics are handled in this branch.

Analysis of specific open systems are carried out in the second half of most thermodynamics textbooks.