A unified description of a class of generalized irreversible reciprocating heat engine cycles is given in this paper. The model cycle consisting of two heating branches, two cooling branches, and two adiabatic branches with heat transfer, friction, and variable specific heats of working fluid is established. The thermodynamic performance of the universal cycle is analysed and optimized by using finite time thermodynamics. The relations between the power output and the compression ratio, between the thermal efficiency and the compression ratio, as well as the optimal relation between power output and the efficiency of the cycle are derived by detailed numerical examples. Moreover, the effects of variable specific heats of the working fluid and cycle process on cycle performance are analysed and the major differences of cycle performance are compared when the specific heats of the working fluid are constant and variable respectively. The results obtained herein include the performance characteristics of endoreversible and irreversible reciprocating Diesel, Otto, Atkinson, Brayton, Braysson, Carnot, dual, and Miller cycles with constant and variable specific heats of the working fluid. They can provide some new guidelines for the design practice of real internal combustion engines.
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