Modules in

Combustion Engineering

SESSION TOPIC 2: Thermodynamic Cycles

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the session, you will:

1. Understand the application of thermodynamics in the field of Combustion
Engineering.
2. Understand the role of combustion engine in the industry.
3. Apply the concept of thermodynamic cycles in analyzing problems related to
Combustion.

KEY TERMS

Brayton Expansion Compression Isentropic

Isobaric Otto Work Efficiency

CORE CONTENT
BRAYTON CYCLE

– prototype used in Gas Turbine Power Plant

– also known as Joule Cycle
– heat is added during Isobaric Process
– heat is added during Isobaric Process
– Back – work ratio is the ratio of the Compressor Work Input to the Turbine Work
Output

In Chrysler: The Life and Times of an Automotive Genius by Vincent Curcio, American
inventor George Brayton (1772-1837) is recognized as the most important of the early American
inventors of vehicles utilizing internal combustion. The extent of his accomplishment may even
be more wide reaching than what's on record. Inventor George Selden (1846-1922) developed a
combustion engine that he admitted was influenced by Brayton's work and was the basis of a
lawsuit that went on for years – and that would have declared Selden as one of the most vital
minds in the history of automobiles. Originally winning on the basis that his patent covered any
engine using gasoline, he was beaten by Ford on the appeal.
 According to the book, Brayton turbines in their earlier uses were in a Providence, RI
streetcar and an off-rail omnibus in Pittsburgh, PA. His engine was explained this way: "Air is
compressed in the single-acting pump, which has a volume one-half that of the power cylinder.
The compressed air passes from the constant-pressure receiver through pipe…and over the
absorbent material…through which the fuel is fed by a pump. Here it takes up vapor and the
mixture pass the wire-gauge grating and into the cylinder, where it burns. Means are provided
to prevent entirely shutting off the air from the power cylinder, and thus there is kept
constantly burning a small flame which increases for the power stroke. Governing is effected by
a variable cut-off to the power cylinder."

Thermodynamics and Thermal Engineering by J. Selwin Rajadurai explains how the

components of the Brayton Cycle (invented in 1872)—consisting of a compressor, turbine, heat
exchanger, and combustion—created open cycles and closed. Of the open, the author wrote:
"Fresh air in an ambient condition is thrown into the compressor, and the air gets compressed
isentropically. During this stage, work is done on the system. During this process, the pressure
and temperature of the working substance increases, whereas the volume is reduced. The
highpressure proceeds into the combustion chamber, where the fuel is burned at constant
pressure. Due to constant pressure heating, the temperature and the volume of the working
substance increases. The resulting high temperature gases then enter the turbine, where they
expand to the atmospheric pressure isentropically, this producing the power."

It goes on to say that because of the isentropic expansion, the temperature goes down
while the volume rises. The exhaust gases leaving the turbine go into the atmosphere and, since
they're not "recirculated," it is an open cycle.

The closed cycle portion has the same compression and expansion processes but a
constant heat pressure addition fills in for combustion and the exhaust is replaced by constant
pressure heat rejection. Thermal efficiency of the cycle comes from regeneration but is only
recommended when the turbine exhaust temperature is higher than the compressor exit
temperature.

In the end, the Brayton engine eventually was seen as inferior to the later developed
Otto, which relied on a four-stroke piston system instead of going with a two-stroke. But few
can deny Brayton's impact on the progression to today's modern automobile.
SUMMARY OF FORMULAS

PROCESS 1 – 2: Isentropic Compression Process

PROCESS 2 – 3: Isobaric Heat Addition Process
PROCESS 3 – 4: Isentropic Expansion Process
PROCESS 4 – 1: Isobaric Heat Rejection Process

Pressure Ratio, rp
P2 rp
=

P1

Compression Ratio, rk
V
1
rk
=

V2

Heat Added, QA

QA = m CP (T3 – T2)

Heat Rejected, QR
 QR = m CP (T1 – T4)

Compressor Work, WC

WC = m CP (T2 – T1)

Turbine Work, WT

WT = m CP (T3 – T4)

Net Turbine Work, Wn

Wn = WT – W C

Turbine Efficiency, e
WT− WC
e=
QA e =

1 – T4− T1

T3− T2

e= 1–h 4− h1
h3 −

h2

OTTO CYCLE

The Otto cycle is the ideal cycle for spark-ignition reciprocating engines. The air-standard
Otto cycle has the following processes:
1. Starting with the piston at bottom dead center, compression proceeds isentropically
from state 1 to state 2.

2. Heat is added at constant volume from state 2 to state 3.

3. Expansion occurs isentropically from state 3 to state 4.

4. Heat is rejected at constant volume from state 4 to state 1.

• 1-2 Isentropic compression

• 2-3 Constant-volume heat addition

• 3-4 Isentropic expansion

• 4-1 Constant-volume heat rejection

 The execution of the Otto cycle in a piston–cylinder device together with a P-v diagram is
illustrated in left figure. The T-s diagram of the Otto cycle is given in the right figure.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. Consider an Air – Standard Cycle with a compressor work of 53 kW and a turbine work of 89
HP. If the heat added in the combustor is engine 125 kW of power, what is the net work of
the turbine in BTU/hr?
45694

2. An air-standard Otto Cycle has a compression ratio of 8.0 and has air conditions at the
beginning of compression of 150kPa and 25C. The heat added is 1450 KJ/kg. Determine the
thermal efficiency.
56.5%

3. An air – standard Brayton Cycle has a pressure ratio of 8. The air properties at the start of the
compression are 100 kPa and 298 K. The maximum allowable temperature is 1373 K.
Determine the back – work ratio.
0.39316
 ACTIVITY

Thermodynamic Cycles

You have to make a SUMMARY OF FORMULAS (entire output must fit in ONE-PAGE ONLY of
your chosen paper size) about Thermodynamic Cycles (Diesel, Dual and Otto). Your output must
include SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM (T – S or P – V DIAGRAM), SUMMARY OF FORMULAS (Heat
Added, Heat Rejected, Efficiency, Net Work, Important Constants, etc.). Please be creative and
organize in creating your activity. Preferably typewritten.

Note: Kindly put your Name and Student Number on the Upper Left Side of your paper. Thank
You!
REFERENCES

https://www.clubtechnical.com/
https://www.asme.org/