Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M .

Mallikarjuna

4.4 Air Standard Otto Cycle:

The air-standard-Otto cycle is the idealized cycle for the spark-ignition internal

combustion engines. This cycle is shown above on p-v and T-s diagrams. The Otto

cycle 1-2-3-4 consists of following four process:

Process 1-2: Reversible adiabatic compression of air.

Process 2-3: Heat addition at constant volume.

Process 3-4: Reversible adiabatic expansion of air.

Process 4-1: Heat rejection at constant volume.

2
4

Volume

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M . Mallikarjuna

2
4
1

Entropy

Fig.4.4. Otto cycle on p-v and T-s diagrams

Air Standard Efficiency:

Net workdone
ηth =
Net heat added

Since processes 1-2 and 3-4 are adiabatic processes, the heat transfer during the cycle

takes place only during processes 2-3 and 4-1 respectively. Therefore, thermal

efficiency can be written as,

Heat added - Heat rejected

ηth =
Heat added

Consider ‘m’ kg of working fluid,

Heat added = mCV ( T3 - T2 )

Heat Rejected = mCV ( T4 - T1 )

mCV ( T3 - T2 ) - mCV ( T4 - T1 ) T4 - T1
ηth = =1-
mCV ( T3 - T2 ) T3 - T2

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M . Mallikarjuna

For the reversible adiabatic processes 3-4 and 1-2, we can write,

γ -1 γ -1
T4 ⎛v ⎞ T ⎛V ⎞
=⎜ 3⎟ and 1 = ⎜ 2 ⎟
T3 ⎝ v4 ⎠ T2 ⎝ V1 ⎠
v 2 = v3 and v 4 = v1
γ−1
T4 T T -T ⎛V ⎞
= 1 = 4 1 =⎜ 2⎟
T3 T2 T3 - T2 ⎝ V1 ⎠
γ -1
T1 ⎛V ⎞
η th = 1 - = 1- ⎜ 2 ⎟
T2 ⎝ V1 ⎠
V1
The ratio is called as compression ratio, r.
V2

γ -1
⎛1⎞
ηth =1- ⎜ ⎟
⎝r⎠

From the above equation, it can be observed that the efficiency of the Otto cycle is

mainly the function of compression ratio for the given ratio of Cp and Cv. If we plot the

variations of the thermal efficiency with increase in compression ratio for different

gases, the curves are obtained as shown in Fig.4.4.1. Beyond certain values of

compression ratios, the increase in the thermal efficiency is very small, because the

curve tends to be asymptotic. However, practically the compression ratio of petrol

engines is restricted to maximum of 9 or 10 due to the phenomenon of knocking at high

compression ratios.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M . Mallikarjuna

γ=1.67

γ=1.40

γ=1.30

Compression ratio,r

Effect of CR and γ on efficiency for Otto cycle.

Fig.4.4.1. Variation of thermal efficiency with compression ratio

Mean Effective Pressure:

Generally, it is defined as the ratio of the net workdone to the displacement volume of

the piston.

Let us consider ‘m’ kg of working substance.

Net work done = m Cv {( T3 - T2 ) - ( T4 - T1 )}

Displacement Volume = ( V1 - V2 )

⎛ 1⎞ m R T1 ⎛ r - 1 ⎞
= V1 ⎜1 - ⎟ = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ r ⎠ P1 ⎝ r ⎠

m C v ( γ- 1) T1 ⎧ r - 1 ⎫
= ⎨ ⎬
P1 ⎩ r ⎭
since, R = Cv ( γ - 1)

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M . Mallikarjuna

m C v ⎡⎣( T3 - T2 ) - ( T4 - T1 ) ⎤⎦
mep =
m C v ( γ -1) T1 ⎧⎛ r - 1 ⎞ ⎫
⎨⎜ ⎟⎬
P1 ⎩⎝ r ⎠ ⎭

⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ p1 ⎞ ⎛ r ⎞
= ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟ {( T3 - T2 ) - ( T4 - T1 )}
⎝ γ - 1 ⎠ ⎝ T1 ⎠ ⎝ r - 1 ⎠

γ -1
Now, T2 = T1 ( r )

P3 T3
Let, rp = = = Pressure ratio
P2 T2

P3
T3 = T2 = rp T2 = rp r γ -1 T1 (for V = C)
P2

γ -1 γ -1
⎛1⎞ γ -1 ⎛1⎞
So, T4 = T3 ⎜ ⎟ = rp r T1 ⎜ ⎟ = rp T1
⎝r⎠ ⎝r⎠

mep =
P1 r
( r - 1) ( γ - 1) {( rp r γ -1 - r γ -1 ) - ( rp - 1)}

⎪
= P1 r ⎨⎜
p (
⎧⎛ r γ -1 r - 1 - r - 1 ⎞ ⎫
p
⎟ ⎪⎬
) ( )
⎪⎩⎜⎝ ( γ - 1) ( r - 1) ⎟⎪
⎠⎭

⎪
mep = P1 r ⎨
p(
⎧ r γ -1 - 1 r - 1 ⎫
⎪ )( )
⎬
⎪⎩ ( r - 1) ( γ - 1) ⎭⎪

Indian Institute of Technology Madras