Thermodynamic Cycles

Look at different cycles that approximate real

processes
You can categorize these processes several
different ways

Power Cycles vs. Refrigeration

Gas vs. Vapor
Closed vs. open
Internal Combustion vs. External Combustion

Power Cycles
Otto Cycle
Spark Ignition

Diesel Cycle
Brayton Cycle
Gas Turbine

Rankine Cycle

These are all heat engines. They convert heat to work, so

the efficiency is:

Wnet
th =
Qin

Ideal Cycles

Well be using ideal cycles to analyze

real systems, so lets start with the only
ideal cycle weve studied so far

Carnot Cycle

Q-W=0 Q=W
In addition, we know that the efficiency for a
Carnot Cycle is:

th , Carnot

TL
= 1
TH

Carnot Cycle is not a good model for most real

processes

For example
Internal combustion engine
Gas turbine

We need to develop a new model, that

is still ideal

Air-Standard Assumptions

Air continuously circulates in a closed

loop and behaves as an ideal gas
All the processes are internally
reversible
Combustion is replaced by a heataddition process from the outside
Heat rejection replaces the exhaust
process
Also assume a constant value for Cp,
evaluated at room temperature

Terminology for Reciprocating Devices

Compression Ratio

V max VBDC
r=
=
V min VTDC

Mean Effective Pressure

W = PdV
1

W = PV

1-2
2-3
3-4
4-1

Isentropic Compression
Constant Volume Heat Addition
Isentropic Expansion
Constant Volume Heat Rejection

Thermal Efficiency of the Otto Cycle

Wnet Qnet Qin Qout

Qout
th =
= 1
=
=
Qin
Qin
Qin
Qin
Apply First Law Closed System to Process 2-3, V = Constant

Qnet , 23 Wnet , 23 = U 23
3

Wnet , 23 = Wother , 23 + Wb , 23 = 0 + PdV = 0

2

Qnet , 23 = U 23
Qnet , 23 = Qin = mCv (T3 T2 )

Apply First Law Closed System to Process 4-1,V = Constant

Qnet , 41 Wnet , 41 = U 41
1

Wnet , 41 = Wother , 41 +W b , 41= 0 + PdV = 0

4

Qnet , 41 = U 41
Qnet , 41 = Qout = mCv (T1 T4 )
Qout = mCv (T1 T4 ) = mCv (T4 T1 )

 th , Otto

Qout
= 1
Qin

th , Otto

mCv ( T4 T1 )
= 1
mCv ( T3 T2 )

(T4 T1 )
= 1
(T3 T2 )
T1 ( T4 / T1 1)
= 1
T2 ( T3 / T2 1)

Recall processes 1-2 and 3-4 are isentropic, so

T2 v1
=
T1 v2

k 1

and

T3 v4
=
T4 v3

k 1

T2 T3
=
T1 T4

v3 = v2 and v4 = v1

or
T4 T3
=
T1 T2

 th , Otto

(T4 T1 )
= 1
(T3 T2 )
T1 (T4 / T1 1)
= 1
T2 (T3 / T2 1)
1

th , Otto

T1
= 1
T2

Is this the same as the Carnot efficiency?

Efficiency of the Otto Cycle vs. Carnot Cycle

There are only two temperatures in the

Carnot cycle
Heat is added at TH
Heat is rejected at TL

There are four temperatures in the Otto

cycle!!
Heat is added over a range of temperatures
Heat is rejected over a range of temperatures

Since process 1-2 is isentropic,

T1 V2
=
T2 V1

th , Otto

k 1

1
r

T1
= 1
T2

Increasing Compression Ratio

Increases the Efficiency

k 1

th , Otto = 1

1
r

k 1

Typical Compression
Ratios for Gasoline
Engines

Why not use higher compression Ratios?

Premature Ignition
Causes Knock
Reduces the Efficiency
Mechanically need a better design

Diesel Engines

No spark plug
Fuel is sprayed into hot compressed air

State Diagrams for the Diesel Cycle

Diesel Cycle

Otto Cycle
The only
difference
is in
process
2-3

Consider Process 2-3

This is the step where heat is transferred into the

system
We model it as constant pressure instead of constant
volume

qin , 23 wb ,out = u = u3 u2
qin , 23 = u + Pv = h = C p (T3 T2 )

Consider Process 4-1

This is where heat is rejected
We model this as a constant v process
That means there is no boundary work

q41 w41 = u

q41 = qout = u = Cv (T1 T4 )

qout = Cv (T4 T1 )

As for any heat engine

wnet
qout
th =
= 1
qin
qin

qout = Cv (T4 T1 ) and qin = C p (T3 T2 )

nth ,diesel

Cv (T4 T1 )
(
T4 T1 )
= 1
= 1
k (T3 T2 )
C p (T3 T2 )

Rearrange

nth ,diesel

T1 (T4 T1 1)
= 1
kT2 (T3 T2 1)

PV
PV
3 3
= 2 2 where P3 = P2
T3
T2
T3 V3
=
= rc
T2 V2
rc is called the cutoff ratio its the ratio of
the cylinder volume before and after the
combustion process

nth ,diesel

T1 (T4 T1 1)
= 1
kT2 (rc 1)

PV
PV
4 4
= 1 1 where V4 = V1
T4
T1
T4 P4
=
T1 P1

nth ,diesel

T1 (TP44 TP11 1)
= 1
kT2 (rc 1)

Since Process 1-2 and Process 3-4

are both isentropic

PV = P V and
k
1 1

k
2 2

P V = PV
k
4 4

k
3 3

V3
P3 V
P4 V
k
= = rc
=
P1 V
P2 V
V2
k
3
k
2

k
4
k
1

nth ,diesel

T1 r 1
= 1
kT2 (rc 1)
k
c

Finally, Since process 1-2 is

isentropic

T1 v2
=
T2 v1

T1 1
=
T2 r

k 1 The volume ratio

k 1

from 1 to 2 is the
compression ratio, r

th ,diesel

rc 1
1
= 1 k 1

r k (rc 1)

k=1.4

The efficiency of the Otto cycle is always higher than the

Diesel cycle

Why use the Diesel cycle?

Because you can use higher compression ratios