The thermal efficiencies of several thermodynamic cycles are evaluated and compared for the condition of maximum specific net work output for a specified cycle temperature ratio. It is shown at this condition that the efficiencies of all of the cycles are very similar and that an objective selection of a cycle for a particular application cannot be made on the basis of thermal efficiency alone. The different cycles are then compared with respect to other important design parameters for the optimized condition and comments are made with regard to power generation and the associated controlling rate processes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
FairesV. M., Thermodynamics, Collier-Macmillan, New York, 1962.
2.
RogersG. F. C.MayhewY. R., Engineering Thermodynamics, 2nd edn, Longman, London, 1967.
3.
JonesJ. B.HawkinsG. A., Engineering Thermodynamics, John Wiley, New York, 1985.
4.
MaronM. J.ShapiroH. N., Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, John Wiley, New York, 1988.
5.
SontagR. E.Van WylenG. J., Introduction to Thermodynamics Classical and Statistical, John Wiley, New York, 1970.
6.
HowellJ. R.BuckiusR. O., Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1992.
7.
PetrieT., The Elements of Internal Combustion Engineering, Longman Green, London, 1925.
8.
PyeD. R., The Internal Combustion Engine, Vol. 1., Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1937.
9.
HowarthM. H., The Design of High Speed Diesel Engines, Constable, London, 1966.
10.
MackerleJ., Air Cooled Automotive Engines, Griffin, London, 1961.
11.
ArkhangelskyV.KhovakhM.StepanovY.TrusovV.VikhertM.VoinovA., Motor Vehicle Engines, Mir Publishers, Moscow, 1979.
12.
FergusonC. R., Internal Combustion Engines, John Wiley, New York, 1986.
13.
KleinS. A., ‘An explanation for observed compression ratios in internal combustion engines’, ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 113, (4), 511–513 (1991).
14.
CurzonF. L.AhlbornB., ‘Efficiency of a Carnot engine at maximum power output’, American Journal of Physics, 43, 22–24 (1975).
15.
WuC., ‘Power optimization of a finite time Carnot heat engine’. Energy, 13, (9), 681–687 (1988).
16.
OndraechemM. J.RubinM. H.BandY. B., ‘The generalized Carnot cycle: A working fluid operating in finite time between finite heat sources and sinks’, Journal of Chemical Physics, 78, (7), 4721–4727 (1983).
17.
WuC.KiangR. L., ‘Power performance of a non-isentropic Brayton cycle’, ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 113, (4), 501–504 (1991).
18.
IbrahimO. M.KleinS. A.MitchellJ. W., ‘Optimum heat power cycle for specified boundary conditions’, ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 113, (4), 514–521 (1991).
19.
SwansonL. W., ‘Thermodynamic optimisation of irreversible power cycles with constant external reservoir temperatures’, ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 13, (4), 505–510 (1991).
20.
RicardoH. R.HempsonJ. G. G., The High Speed Internal Combustion Engine, 5th edn, Blackie, Glasgow, 1972.
