Chapter 1

Gas Power Cycle

Content:
Air Standard Cycle,
Air Standard Carnot cycle
Reciprocating Engines,
Air Standard Otto Cycle (Spark Ignition)
Ideal Diesel Cycle (Compression Ignition)
Ideal Brayton Cycle (Gas turbine engines)

Gas cycles VS Vapor cycles

Gas cycles :
Working fluid remains in the gaseous throughout
the entire cycle applied in gasoline engine, diesel
engine, gas turbine engine

Source: Assoc.Prof.Dr.Sommai Prepream

Gas cycles VS Vapor cycles (contd)

Vapor cycles :
Working fluid exists in the vapor phase during
on part of the cycle and in the liquid phase
during another part such as in steam power
plant cycle and refrigeration cycles

The Carnot Cycle and Its Value in Engineering

Source, TH
QH

Heat
Engine

Wnet
QL
Sink, TL

The 4 processes of the carnot cycle: (Heat Engine)

{ Reversible Isothermal heat transfer from high temp.
reservoir.
{ Reversible adiabatic expansion.
{ Reversible Isothermal heat transfer to low temp. reservoir
{ Reversible adiabatic compression

Example 8.1 Show that the thermal efficiency of a Carnot

cycle operating between the temperature limits of TL AND
TH is solely a function of these two temperatures.

Solution

1
W
Q
T
from th = net = 1 L
QH
QH
2 Q
and
S 2 S1 =

1
T
T rev
4
for rev. Isothermal process, T = const.
1 2
Q
s =s
then S 2 S1 = Q = 1 2
1
rev
T
T
or
1 Q2 = T ( S 2 S1 )
Therefore, QH = TH ( S 2 S1 ), and QL = TL ( S3 S 4 )
But
S1 = S 4 , and
S 2 = S3
T (S S )
Q
T
th = 1 L = 1 L 3 4 = 1 L
QH
TH ( S 2 S1 )
TH

QH

QL
s2=s3

Actual Gas Cycle

{
{
{
{

Open Cycle (intake, discharge)

Working fluid is not a pure
substance
Heat input by COMBUSTION of
a fuel
Involve friction Exhaust
gas

Fuel + air
mixture

Source: Assoc.Prof.Dr.Sommai Prepream

Air-Standard Assumption
{

{
{

The working fluid is air which continuously

circulated in a close loop and behave as an
ideal gas
All the processes are internally reversible
The combustion process is replaced by a
heated-addition process from the external
source
The exhaust process is replaced by a heat
rejection process which restores the
working fluid to its initial state

Over View on Reciprocating Engines

Top Dead Center (TDC) : Position of the piston
when it forms the smallest volume in diameter

Exhaust
valve

Intake
valve

TDC
Stroke
Bore
BDC

Source: Assoc.Prof.Dr.Sommai Prepream

Bottom Dead Center (BDC) : Position of the

piston when it forms the largest volume in diameter

Stroke : Length of piston travel

Bore : Diameter of the cylinder
Clearance Volume (Vc) : minimum volume

formed in the cylinder when the piston is at TDC

Displacement Volume (Vd) :Swept Volume (Vmax-Vmin)

Compression Ratio (rv) = (Vmax/Vmin) = (VBDC/VTDC)
Mean Effective Pressure (MEP) : Fictious pressure that acted on the
piston during the entire power stoke
Net Work during the actual cycle (Wnet):
Wnet = (MEP) x (Piston Area) x (Stroke) = (MEP) x (Displacement Volume)

Mean Effective Pressure, MEP Concept

P

Actual Processes

Equivalent by MEP

Equivalent

Wnet

MEP

Wnet
vmin
TDC

vmax v
BDC

vmax v

vmin

Wnet = (MEP) x (Displacement Volume)

= (MEP) x (Vmax-Vmin)

Source: Assoc.Prof.Dr.Sommai Prepream

Four Stroke Engine

Intake

Compression

Power

Exhaust

1. Intake Stroke piston moves from TDC to BDC,

drawing in fresh air-fuel mixture.
2. Compression Stroke piston moves from BDC to
TDC, compress air-fuel mixture.
3. Power Stroke piston at TDC, spark plug ignite
the air-fuel mixture. the combustion occur
very fast that, in theory, the piston still at
TDC. After that the piston is pushed to BDC.
4. Exhaust Stroke piston moves from BDC to TDC,
pushes the combustion gases out.

Two Stroke Engine

Compression

Power

Intake &
Exhaust

1. Compression Stroke piston moves from

BDC to TDC, compress air-fuel
mixture.
2. Power Stroke piston at TDC, spark plug
ignite the air-fuel mixture. After the
piston is pushed to BDC. Meanwhile,
about half way, combustion gases are
discharged and fresh air-fuel mixture
is drawing in .

Actual and Ideal cycles in spark-ignition engine

Actual four-stoke spark-ignition
engine

Ideal Otto
cycle

Under the Air-Standard Assumption

Air Standard Otto Cycle

Ideal Otto cycle consists of four internally reversible processes:
Process 1-2 Isentropic Compression
Process 2-3 v = constant, heat added
Process 3-4 Isentropic expansion
Process 4-1 v = constant, heat rejection
P

Pv

qin

wout
v=

n
co

st.

4
Pv k
=

win

v1=v4

v2=v3

v=c

onst.

qout

s1=s2

s3=s4

There are only 2-stroke of all 4-processes,

TDC

BDC

Source: Assoc.Prof.Dr.Sommai Prepream

Analysis of Air Standard Otto Cycle

Constant volume heat transfer
1st law : closed system

2 q 3 = u3 u 2 + 2 w3

Pv

v = const. 2 w3 = 0
q = u3 u 2

Pv k
=

4
c

win

qin = 2 q3 = Cv(T3 T2 )
Isentropic Process of Ideal gases
k

Pv = P1v1 = P2v2 = constant

k

and

T2 P2
=
T1 P1

( k 1) / k

v
= 1
v2

v=

n
co

st.

k 1
1

s1=s2

qin

P2 v1 V1
= =
P1 v2 V2

1
v1=v4

v2=v3

qout = 4 q1 = Cv(T1 T4 )
k

wout

2 3

Ideal gas : Pv = RT, du = Cv dT

and

v = st.
con

qout

s3=s4

Analysis of Air Standard Otto Cycle (contd)

Thermal efficiency
w
th = net
qin

3
Pv

wnet =1 w 2 + 3 w 4
w = Pdv
Pv = c , k =
k

wout

Cp

Pv k
=

4
c

win

Cv

P2 v 2 P1v1
1 k
R (T2 T1 )
1 w2 =
1 k
q
q
or , th = 1 L = 1 4 1
qH
2 q3
1

v1=v4

v2=v3

w2 =

Mean Effective Pressure

wnet = MEP ( v1 v 2 )

qin

v=

n
co

st.

v = st.
con

s1=s2

qout

s3=s4

Spark-ignition Engine
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The higher rv the higher thermal eff.

The higher rv cause Self-Ignition engine knock
Higher Octane Number of fuel used retard the self-ignition
Typical rv of gasoline engine ~ 9.0 10.0
Thermal efficiency of actual spark ignition engine ~ 25-30%

Example 8.2 An ideal Otto cycle has a compression ratio of 8. At the

begining of the compression process, the air is at 100 kPa and 17oC,
and 800 kJ/kg of heat is transfered to air during the heat addition
proceed. Accounting for the variation of specific heats of air with
temperature, determine, (a) the maximum temperature and pressure
which occur during the cycle, (b) the net work out put, (c) the thermal
efficiency, and (d) the mean effective pressure of the cycle
Given:
rv = 8.0
P1= 100 kPa and

3
Pv

T1=17oC
qH = 800 kJ/kg

variation of specific
heats

Determine:
a) Tmax
b) wnet
c) th
d) MEP

wout
v=

st.

win
v2=v3

n
co

4
Pv k
=

qin

1
v1=v4

v=c

onst.

qout

s1=s2

s3=s4

(a) Tmax = T3 :find state 2 and then 3 using Ideal gas eqn.
and Table A-17
Table A-17 ; T1 = 290 K u1 = 206.91 kJ/kg, and vr = 676.1
1-2 Isentropic proc. vr2/vr1 = v2/v1 , v2/v1 = 1/rv = 1/8,
vr2 = vr1/rv = 676.1/8.0 = 84.51
Table A-17 : at
vr2 = 84.51 T2 = 652.4 K and u2 = 475.11 kJ/kg,
P2v2 /T2 = P1v1/T1 ,
P2 = P1(v1/v2 )(T2/T1 ) = (100 kPa)(8.0)(652.4/290) = 1799.7 kPa
2-3 Constant volume heat added,
1st law q23 = w23 + u3 u2 ; w23 = 0
q23 = u3 u2
; 800 kJ/kg = u3 475.11
u3 =1275.11 kJ/kg table A-17: T3 = 1575.1 K and vr3 = 6.108
P3v3/T3 = P2v2 /T2 ,
P3 = P2(v2/v3 )(T3/T2 ) = (1799.7 kPa)(1/8.0)(1575.1/652.4) = 543.4 kPa
Tmax = T3 = 1575.1 K answer

(b)
wnet = qH qL , similar to q23 ; -qL = q41 = u1 u4
3-4 Isentropic proc.
vr4/vr3 = v4/v3 , v4/v3 = rv = 8, vr4 = vr3rv = 6.108*8.0 = 48.864
Table A-17 : at
vr4 = 48.864 T2 = 795.6 K and u4 =588.74 kJ/kg,
4-1 Constant volume heat rejected,
1st law
q41 = w41 + u1 u4 ; w41 = 0
q41 = u1 u4 = 206.91 - 588.74 = -381.83 kJ/kg
qL = -q41 = 381.83 kJ/kg
wnet = qH qL = 800 381.83 = 418.17 kJ/kg
answer
(c) th = wnet /qH = 418.83/800 = 0.523 or 52.3 %

answer

(d) MEP = wnet /(v1-v2 ) ; P1v1 = RT1

v1 = 0.832 m3/kg , v2 = v1/8,
MEP = 574.4 kPa answer

Diesel cycles: the ideal cycle for

compression-ignition engine
Ideal diesel cycle consists of four internally reversible processes:
Process 1-2 Isentropic Compression
Process 2-3 P = constant, heat added
Process 3-4 Isentropic expansion
Process 4-1 v = constant, heat rejection
P

qin

qin

Pv k
=

P
Pv k
=

v2=v3

qout
1

Spark-ignition Engine

t.
ns
co

4
c

v1=v4

s1=s2

v=

t
cons

qout

s3=s4

10

Analysis of Ideal Diesel Cycle

P

Constant pressure heat transfer

qin

1st law : closed system

2 q3 = u3 u 2 + 2 w3

Pv k
=

P = const. 2 w3 = P2 (v3 v2 )
q = u3 u2 + P2 (v3 v2 ) = h3 h2

Pv k
=

2 3

Ideal gas : Pv = RT, dh = C p dT

4
c

qin = 2 q3 = C p(T3 T2 )
and

qout = 4 q1 = Cv (T4 T1 )

v1=v4

v2=v3

q = u1 u4 = Cv (T4 T1 )

4 1

qin

Pv = P1v1 = P2v2 = constant

k

and

P2 v1 V1
= =
P1 v2 V2
T2 P2
=
T1 P1

( k 1) / k

v
= 1
v2

Isentropic Process of Ideal gases

k

qout

2
k 1

t.
ns
co
4

.
onst
v=c

qout

s1=s2

s3=s4

Analysis of Ideal Diesel Cycle

P
Cut off ratio (rc) is the ratio of the cylinder
volume after and before the combustion process

qin
2

V
v
rc = 3 = 3
V2 v2

Pv k
=

Thermal efficiency

th

Pv k
=

4
c

v1=v4

v2=v3

qin

at processes 1 2 and 3 4

th

qout

from definition of rc and isentropic

1 rk 1
= 1 k 1 c

r
k ( rc 1)

w
q
T 4 T1
= net = 1 out = 1
qH
q in
k (T 3 T 2 )
T (T / T 1)
= 1 1 4 1
kT 2 (T3 / T 2 1)

t.
ns
co

onst
v=c

s1=s2

qout

s3=s4

11

Compression Ignition Engine

1. The thermal efficiency of Diesel cycle always higher than Otto cycle
(th ,diesel > th ,otto ).
2. The diesel engines operated at the higher rv and burn the fuel more
completely.
3. Typical rv of diesel engine ~ 12.0 23.0
4. In a gasoline engine, its air intake is carefully restricted and controlled by
the carburetor for a 15:1 air to fuel ratio. However, in the diesel engine,
the air intake is unrestricted.

5. Thermal efficiency of actual diesel engine ~ 35-40%.

Typical
compression
ratios for
diesel
engines

Brayton Cycle: The Ideal Cycle for

Gas-turbine Engines
qin
Heat Exchanger

Combustion Chamber

Compressor

Turbine

Win

Wout
Compressor

Turbine

Heat Exchanger

q out

An open-cycle gas turbine engine

An closed-cycle gas turbine engine

12

Ideal Brayton Cycle

Brayton Cycle consists of four internally reversible processes:
Process 1-2 Isentropic Compression (in a compressor)
Process 2-3 P = constant, heat added
Process 3-4 Isentropic expansion (in a turbine)
Process 4-1 P = constant, heat rejection
qin

qin

qin

q out

P=

t.
cons

st.
con

t.
cons

onst.
s=c

P=

s=

Wout

Win

qout

s1 =s2

qout
s3 =s4

Analysis of Ideal Brayton Cycle

The energy balance for a steady - flow process for Brayton cycle
(qin qout ) + ( win wout ) = hexit hinlet
P = const. at process 2 - 3 and 4 - 1
qin = 2 q3 = h3 h2 = C p(T3 T2 )
and

qin

qout = 4 q1 = h4 h1 = C p(T4 T1 )

P=

t.
cons

Isentropic Process of Ideal gases at process 1 - 2 and 3 - 4

and P2 = P3 and P4 = P1
k

( k 1) / k

T2 P2
=
T1 P1
Thermal efficiency

and

th =

P
= 3
P4

( k 1) / k

T3
T4

P=

Pv = P1v1 = P2v2 = constant

k

t
cons

qout

s1 =s2

qin

s3 =s4

w net
q
T 4 T1
T (T / T 1)
= 1 out = 1
= 1 1 4 1
qH
q in
k (T 3 T 2 )
kT 2 (T3 / T 2 1)

from isentropic at processes 1 2 and 3 4 and

Pressure ratio ( r p ) =

th = 1

1
rp

k 1 / k

P2
; Then
P1

qout

13

Gas Turbine Engine

1. The thermal efficiency of an ideal Brayton cycle depends on the
pressure ratio and k.
2. In commom designs, the pressure ratio should be in range of 11-16,
however, it can work in the range at rp= 5 20.
3. At the fixed turbine inlet temp. (T3), the net work output increase with
the pressure ratio, reaches a maximum, and then starts to decrease.
4. Cycle efficiency can be improved through increasing the tutbine inlet
temp., increasing the efficiency of turbomachinery components,
modification of the basic cycle.

14