Classification of Thermodynamic

Cycles
We can classify thermodynamic cycles
according to their desired output:
Power cycles vs. refrigeration cycles

the state of the working fluid:

Gas cycles vs. vapor cycles

or whether or not the working fluid is

replaced in each cycle
Closed cycles vs. open cycles
MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Heat engines
Internal combustion:
the heat is supplied to
the working fluid by
burning the fuel within
the system boundaries
e.g. automobile
engines

External combustion:
heat is supplied to the
working fluid from a
source external to the
system
e.g. steam power
plants

We can also classify heat engines in terms of

how the heat is supplied to the working fluid.
MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Analysis of gas cycles

actual gas power cycles are difficult to
analyze because of non-idealities such as
friction and non-equilibrium conditions
We make simplifications and strip the
cycle of internal irreversibilities. Then we
end of with an ideal cycle that closely
resembles the actual cycle.

MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Simplification of a real process to allow

for analysis

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Analysis of gas power cycles

The working fluid remains a gas through
out the entire cycle.
Examples of such cycles: spark-ignition
engines, diesel engines, conventional gas
turbines.
All of these engines are internal
combustion engines. This means that the
working fluid undergoes chemical
reactions in the cycle:
air + fuel combustion gases
MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Air standard assumptions

Set of assumptions that we make in the analysis

of internal combustion engines:
the working fluid is air which is an ideal gas
all processes of the cycle are internally
reversible
the combustion process is replaced by a heataddition process from an external source
the exhaust process is replaced by a heat
rejection process that restores the working fluid
to its initial state (i.e. we consider a closed cycle)
MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Reciprocating engines
top dead center: position
of piston when it forms
smallest volume in cylinder

bottom dead center:

position of piston when it
forms largest volume in
cylinder
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PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Volumes
Compression
ratio:

Vmax VBDC
r=
=
Vmin VTDC

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Fall 2006

Mean effective
pressure
A fictitious pressure
that, if it acted on
the piston over the
entire power stroke,
would produce the
same amount of net
work as the actual
cycle.

MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Classification of reciprocating engines

Spark ignition (SI): combustion is
initiated by a spark plug. Ideal cycle is the
Otto cycle.
Compression ignition (CI): air-fuel
mixture is self ignited as a result of
compressing the mixture above its self
ignition temperature. Ideal cycle is the
Diesel cycle.
MECH 351

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Fall 2006

4 stroke spark ignition engine

Actual
cycle
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4 stroke spark ignition engine

Ideal cycle

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2 stroke reciprocating
engine
Same for 4 functions
are executed in just 2
strokes: the power
stroke and the
compression stroke.

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Fall 2006

Otto Cycle
Apply the air-standard assumptions to SI engines we
get the idealized version: the Otto cycle

Process 1-2: isentropic compression, Process 2-3: constant

volume heat addition, Process 3-4: isentropic expansion,
Process 4-1: constant volume heat rejection.
MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Analysis of Otto Cycle:

Ideal gas w/ constant Cv.
The cycle is
executed in a
closed system,
i.e. a cylinder.

q in = u 3 u 2

= c v (T3 T2 )

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q out = u 4 u1

= c v (T4 T1 )

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Thermal efficiency of the Otto cycle

Constant Cv

th ,otto

w net
1
=
= 1 k 1
r
q in
compression ratio

How do we derive this?

MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Isentropic relations for ideal gas

with constant specific heat
T2
v1

=
T1 s =const v 2

k 1

k=

T2
P2

=
T1 s =const P1

( k 1) k

P2
v1

=
P1 s =const v 2

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Cp
Cv

These equations are used to

relate the properties of the states
before and after the isentropic
expansion and compression
processes.

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

th of the ideal Otto cycle

k=1.4

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The maximum
feasible compression
ratio is limited by
engine knock. This is
when the fuel and air
mixture is compressed
beyond its autoignition
temperature and
premature ignition
occurs.

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Specific heat ratio and th

smaller molecule, argon
Air at room temperature
larger molecule, ethane
Working fluid in real engines contains
larger molecules and it is used at much
higher temperatures. Both result in lower
th. A typical value is about 25 to 30%.

MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Analysis of isentropic processes when

specific heat varies with temperature
Cannot use the isentropic ideal gas relations
Instead we use Table A.17 and reduced pressure (Pr)
or reduced volume (vr) to relate the properties of the
states before and after an isentropic process.

P2
P1

s = cons tan t

Pr 2
=
Pr1

v2
v1

s = cons tan t

vr2
=
v r1

We can also use ideal gas law to find temperature

We find u from Table A.17
MECH 351

PM Wood-Adams

Fall 2006

Example 8-2
An ideal Otto cycle has a compression ratio of 8.
At the beginning of the compression process, air
is at 100 kPa and 17C, and 800 kJ/kg of heat is
transferred during the heat addition process.
Accounting for the variation in specific heats with
temperature, determine
(a) the maximum temperature and pressure that
occur during the cycle,
(b) the net work output,
(c) the thermal efficiency and
(d) the mean effective pressure for the cycle.
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Fall 2006

Example 8-2

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Fall 2006