490 IDEAL GAS POWER CYCLES '

=266+ 29-3 =
55-9 kJ
iw
(e) Work ratio = - 1 -----------r:---'
Positive work done
36-5

36-5
837+

27-2

36-5
837 + 68
36-5
76-37 = 0478
(f)

Mean effective pressure

( V, - V 2 ) 365
(0084-0-0056)
36-5
0-0784 = 465-6 kN/m
2

(g) Carnot r] =

T T
4

T4
1593-301
1593
1292
1593 = 0-81 = 0-81 x 10

13.8 The Atkinson cycle

This cycle is named after J. Atkinson, a British Engineer, who in and around 1885 carried
out some work on the gas engine. A peculiarity of the Atkinson gas engine was its
alternate short and long stroke which was obtained from a special link mechanism. The
short stroke was the compression stroke while the long stroke was the expansion stroke.
In this way, Atkinson hoped to obtain extra work over that obtained from the constant
volume cycle. In fact, as was explained when discussing the Diesel cycle, the small extra
amount of work obtained does not really justify the increased cylinder volume required
and, in this case, the more complex link mechanism necessary to give the alternate short
and long stroke.
This cycle has also been used as a gas turbine cycle. Notable here was the Holtzwarth
Constant Volume, or Explosion gas turbine of about 1908. In this type of gas turbine, air
was compressed in a compressor and passed to a constant volume combustion chamber.
Fuel was injected into the combustion chamber in which it was burnt, or explbded, and
the pressure was increased at constant volume. The high pressure gas was then released to
expand through a gas turbine and then passed to exhaust into the atmosphere. This type of
gas turbine has not found great favour although more work was done on its development
in Switzerland in about 1930.
In Fig. 13.19(a) is represented a P-V diagram of the Atkinson cycle.

In
Fig.
13.19(b)
is

represented the T-s diagram. The cycle is arranged as follows:

1-2 Adiabatic compression according to the law PVy = C.
Pressure increases from P, to P2.
Temperature increases from 7, to T2.

Volume decreases from Vx to V2.

Entropy remains constant at s, = s2.
2-

3 Constant volume heat addition.

Pressure increases from P2 to P3.
Temperature increases from T2 to T3.
Volume remains constant at V2 = V3.
Entropy increases from s2 to s3.

3-

4 Adiabatic expansion according to the law PVy C.

Pressure decreases from P3 to P4.
Temperature decreases from T3 to TA.
Volume increases from V3 to V4.
Entropy remains constant at s3 = s4.

4-

1 Constant pressure heat rejection.

Pressure remains constant at P4 = P,.
Temperature decreases from T4 to T,.
Volume decreases from V4 to Vt.
Entropy decreases from s4 to s,.
This process completes the cycle and returns the gas to its original state.

An analysis of the properties at state points 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be made. It is here

assumed that Pi, K, and T, are known.

1. P^.T,
2.

Assume that the volume ratio V1/V2 is known.

= adiabatic compression, volume ratio.

PlVy = p2vi

TI/T2 = (V2/V1)(y~l),
where R v = V 4 / V 3 = adiabatic expansion volume ratio.

4. T J T 3 - ( V,jW11,

Now
The work done during the cycle may be
and dividing,
obtained
as
3. P3/T3 = P2/T2, since the volume remains constant at V3 V2
follows:
Process 3-4 is an expansion and hence
gives positive work done. Processes 4-1
and 1-2 are compression and hence give
negative work done. The net work done
will be the sum of the work done during these processes.

Note also that from the constant pressure

process, V 4 / T 4 = V i / T l ,

From this it appears that V J V ^ R v / r Now

Hence,
QW

= Area under 3-4 area under 4-1 area under 1-2

R in this case is the characteristic gas constant.

Alternatively, the work done may be obtained from the equation,
OW = Heat received - Heat rejected
In this cycle, heat is received during the constant volume process 2-3. Heat is
rejected during the constant pressure process 4-1.
No heat is received or rejected during the adiabatic operations.
= mc(T3 - T2)-mcp(Tt-T,)

(3)

Alternatively,
%

(W Heat received x Thermal tj

= mcv(T3 T2) x Thermal rj

(4)

The
thermal
efficiency
may be

This gives the thermal efficiency in terms of temperature.

Also, by substituting temperature in terms of T, into equation (5),

determined as follows:For this cycle, using the T s chart,

Heat received at constant volume = u 3 u 2 Heat
rejected at constant pressure = h ^ - h y

Also,
<^>W= Heat received Heat rejected
= (u 3 - 2 )-(/i 4 -/ii)

'

(8)

Again, this gives the work done/unit mass/cycle, since the chart will be made out for
unit mass of gas.