MODULE 1 3.

Net Work, Wnet

OTTO CYCLE

Internal Combustion Engine is a prime mover in 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑄𝐴 − |𝑄𝑅 |

which the fuel is burned within the engine and the
products of combustion serve as the thermodynamic Where:
fluid just like gasoline and diesel engines. 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = net work
𝑄𝐴 = heat added
OTTO CYCLE 𝑄𝑅 = heat rejected
It is an ideal thermodynamic cycle that was
introduced by Nikolaus A. Otto (1832 – 1891) for 4. Cycle (Thermal) Efficiency, e
gasoline engine. It is a constant volume combustion It is a measure how efficient is the cycle in
cycle and also referred to as spark ignition engine. producing work or power.

3 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡
P 3 T 𝑒=
𝑄𝐴
4
2
4 Alternate Formula:
2

1
1
1 𝑒 =1−
𝑟 𝑘−1
V s
Where:
Process 1 – 2: Isentropic compression 𝑒 = thermal efficiency
Process 2 – 3: Isometric heat addition 𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡 = net work
Process 3 – 4: Isentropic expansion 𝑄𝐴 = heat added
Process 4 – 1: Isometric heat rejection 𝑟 = compression ratio
𝑘 = specific heat ratio
Performance of Otto Cycle
1. Heat Added (𝑄𝐴 ) 5. Compression ratio, r

𝑉1
𝑄𝐴 = 𝑚 𝐶𝑣 (𝑇3 − 𝑇2 ) 𝑟=
𝑉2
Where: Where:
𝑄𝐴 = heat added, kW, hp, kJ/kg, Btu/lb, kJ, Btu 𝑟 = compression ratio
𝑚 = mass or mass flow rate, kg/s, lb/min, kg, lb 𝑉1 = volume at the start of compression
𝐶𝑣 = specific at constant volume of air 𝑉2 = volume at the end of compression
𝑘𝐽
= 0.718 6. Volume Displacement, Vd
𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝐾
𝑇3 = temperature at the end of heat addition It is the swept volume or volume expelled during
𝑇2 = temperature at the beginning of heat addition the movement of the piston from bottom dead center
to top dead center.

2. Heat Rejected (𝑄𝑅 ) 𝑉𝑑 = 𝑉1 − 𝑉2

Where:
𝑄𝑅 = 𝑚 𝐶𝑣 (𝑇1 − 𝑇4 ) 𝑉𝑑 = volume displacement, m3/sec, m3
𝑉1 = volume at the start of compression
Where: 𝑉2 = volume at the end of compression
𝑄𝑅 = heat rejected, kW, hp, kJ/kg, Btu/lb, kJ, Btu
𝑚 = mass or mass flow rate, kg/s, lb/min, kg, lb
𝐶𝑣 = specific at constant volume
𝑘𝐽
= 0.718
𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝐾
𝑇1 = temperature at the end of heat rejection
𝑇4 = temperature at the beginning of heat rejection
7. Clearance Volume, Vc
It is the volume left in the cylinder after the
compression stroke. It is the volume occupied by air
between the piston and the cylinder head when the
piston is at located at top dead center.

𝑉𝑐 = 𝑐 𝑉𝑑
Where:
𝑉𝑐 = clearance volume, m3/sec, m3
𝑐 = percent clearance in decimal form
𝑉𝑑 = volume displacement, m3/sec, m3

8. Percent Clearance, c

𝑉1 𝑐 𝑉𝑑 + 𝑉𝑑
=
𝑉2 𝑐 𝑉𝑑

Alternate Formula:

1+𝑐
𝑟=
𝑐

9. Mean Effective Pressure, Pm

It is a quantity relating to the operation of a
reciprocating engine and is a measure of an engine's
capacity to do work

𝑊𝑛𝑒𝑡
𝑃𝑚 =
𝑉𝑑
Example:
An air-standard Otto cycle uses 0.1 kg of air and has
a clearance of 17%. The intake conditions are 98 kPa
and 37°C and the energy release during combustion
is 1600 kJ per kg. Determine (a) the compression
ratio, (b) the pressure and temperature at the four
cycle state points, (c) the volume displacement, (d) the
thermal efficiency, and (e) the net work.
[ANSWERS: (a) 6.88; (b) P1 = 98 kPa, T1 = 310K, P2 =
1460 kPa, T2 = 670.6K, P3 = 6310 kPa, T3 = 2900K, P4
= 424 kPa, T4 = 1340K; (c) 0.07760 m3; (d) 53.77%;
(e) 86 kJ]
Practice Problem 3. A gasoline engine has a volumetric compression
ratio of 12. The state before compression is 290 K,
1. An engine operates on the Otto cycle and has a 100 kPa, and the peak cycle temperature is 1800 K.
compression ratio of 8. Fresh air enters the engine at Find the pressure after expansion, work input, work
27ºC and 100 kPa. The amount of heat addition is output, net work output, heat input, thermal
700 kJ/kg. The amount of air mass in the cylinder is efficiency, and mean effective pressure of the cycle.
0.01 kg. Determine the pressure and temperature at [ANSWERS: 3242 kPa, -353.7 kJ/kg, 812.6 kJ/kg,
the end of the combustion, the pressure and 458.9 kJ/kg, 728.5 kJ/kg, 62.99%, 602.1 kPa]
temperature at the end of the expansion, MEP,
efficiency and work output per kilogram of air.
[ANSWERS: P = 4441 kPa and T = 1393ºC (at the end
of the combustion), p = 241.6 kPa and T = 452.1ºC (at
the end of the expansion), MEP = 525.0 kPa, e =
56.47% and Wnet = 3.95 kJ]

2. An engine operates on an Otto cycle with a

4. A 2.4-L gasoline engine running at 1800 RPM has
compression ratio of 8. At the beginning of the
the lowest T as 290 K and the lowest P as 85 kPa. The
isentropic compression process, the volume, pressure
highest T is 2400 K, and combustion adds 1200 kJ/kg
and the temperature of the air are 0.01 m3, 110 kPa,
as heat transfer. Find the compression ratio and the
and 50ºC, respectively. At the end of the combustion
mean effective pressure. How much power does it
process, the temperature is 900ºC. Find (A) the
produce?
temperature at the remaining two states of the Otto
[ANSWERS: 9.93, 818.7 kPa, 29.5 kW]
cycle, (B) the pressure of the gas at the end of the
combustion process, (C) heat added per unit mass to
the engine in the combustion chamber, (D) heat
removed per unit mass from the engine to the
environment, (E) the compression work per unit mass
added, (F) the expansion work per unit mass done, (G)
MEP, and (H) thermal cycle efficiency.
[ANSWERS: (A) 469.3ºC, 237.5ºC, (B) 2022 kPa, (C)
3.67 kJ/kg, (D) -1.60 kJ/kg, (E) -300.5 kJ/kg, (F) 474.8
kJ/kg, (G) 236.6 kPa, (H) 56.47%]