Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M .

Mallikarjuna

4.5 Air Standard Diesel Cycle:

Air standard diesel cycle is a idealized cycle for diesel engines. It is as shown on P-v

and T-s diagrams. The processes in the cycle are as follows:

2 3

Volume

2
4

Entropy
Fig.4.5. Air standard diesel cycle on p-v and T-s diagrams.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M . Mallikarjuna

Process 1-2: Reversible adiabatic Compression.

Process 2-3: Constant pressure heat addition.

Process 3-5: Reversible adiabatic Compression.

Process 4-1: Constant volume heat rejection.

Consider ‘m’ kg of working fluid. Since the compression and expansion processes are

reversible adiabatic processes, we can write,

Heat sup plied = m Cp ( T3 - T2 ) = ( h3 - h2 )

Heat rejected = m Cv ( T4 - T1 ) = ( u4 - u1 )

Workdone = m Cp ( T3 - T2 ) - m C v ( T4 - T1 )

Now, we can write, thermal efficiency as,

m Cp ( T3 - T2 ) - m C v ( T4 - T1 )
ηth =
m Cp ( T3 - T2 )

1 ⎛ T4 - T1 ⎞
= 1 - ⎜ ⎟
γ ⎝ T3 - T2 ⎠

v1 v
T2 = T1 r γ -1 ; r = = 4
v2 v2

T3 v
= 3 = rc = cutoff ratio
T2 v2

T3 = rc T2 = rc T1 r γ -1

γ -1 γ -1
⎛v ⎞ ⎛v ⎞
T4 = T3 ⎜ 3 ⎟ = T3 ⎜ 4 ⎟
⎝ v4 ⎠ ⎝ v3 ⎠

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M . Mallikarjuna

1-γ 1- γ
⎛v v ⎞ ⎛r ⎞
= T3 ⎜ 4 . 2 ⎟ = T3 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ v 2 v3 ⎠ ⎝ rc ⎠
1- γ
γ -1 ⎛ r ⎞
= rc T1 r ⎜ ⎟ ; T4 = rcγ T1
⎝ rc ⎠

1 ⎧⎪ rcγ T1 - T1 ⎫⎪
Hence, ηth = 1 - ⎨ ⎬
γ ⎩⎪ rc r γ -1 T1 - r γ -1 T1 ⎭⎪

⎧⎪ r γ -1 ⎫⎪
= 1 - r1-γ ⎨ c ⎬
⎪⎩ γ ( rc -1) ⎭⎪

From the above equation, it is observed that, the thermal efficiency of the diesel engine

can be increased by increasing the compression ratio, r, by decreasing the cut-off ratio,

α2, or by using a gas with large value of γ. Since the quantity (rγ-1)/γ(rp-1) in above

equation is always greater than unity, the efficiency of a Diesel cycle is always lower

than that of an Otto cycle having the same compression ratio. However, practical Diesel

engines uses higher compression ratios compared to petrol engines.

Mean effective Pressure:

Net workdone
mep =
Displacement volume

m Cp ( T3 - T2 ) - m C v ( T4 - T1 )
=
v1 - v 2

⎛ v ⎞ ⎛ 1⎞
v1 - v 2 = v1 ⎜ 1 - 2 ⎟ = v1 ⎜1 - ⎟
⎝ v1 ⎠ ⎝ r⎠

⎛ r - 1⎞
= m R T1 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ r ⎠

m C v ( γ -1) T1 ⎛ r - 1 ⎞
= ⎜ ⎟
P1 ⎝ r ⎠

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Gas Power Cycles Prof. U.S.P. Shet , Prof. T. Sundararajan and Prof. J.M . Mallikarjuna

m Cp ( T3 - T2 ) - m C v ( T4 - T1 )
mep =
⎛ γ - 1⎞⎛ r - 1⎞
m C v T1 ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎝ P1 ⎠ ⎝ r ⎠

⎛ P r ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎪⎧ ⎛ T3 - T2 ⎞ ⎛ T4 - T1 ⎞ ⎪⎫
= ⎜ 1 ⎟⎜ ⎟ ⎨γ ⎜ ⎟-⎜ ⎟⎬
⎝ r - 1 ⎠ ⎝ γ - 1 ⎠ ⎪⎩ ⎝ T1 ⎠ ⎝ T1 ⎠ ⎭⎪

= P1 r ⎨
c (
⎧ γ r γ -1 ( r - 1) - r γ - 1 ⎫
⎪ c )
⎪
⎬
⎪⎩ ( r - 1)( γ - 1)
⎭⎪

Difference between Actual Diesel and the Otto Engines:

Otto Engine Diesel Engine

1. Homogenous mixture of fuel and air 1. No carburetor is used. Air alone is
formed in the carburetor is supplied supplied to the engine cylinder. Fuel is
to engine cylinder. injected directly into the engine
cylinder at the end of compression
stroke by means of a fuel injector.
Fuel-air mixture is heterogeneous.

2. Ignition is initiated by means of an 2. No spark plug is used. Compression

electric spark plug. ratio is high and the high temperature
of air ignites fuel.

3. Power output is controlled by varying 3. No throttle value is used. Power output

the mass of fuel-air mixture by is controlled only by means of the
means of a throttle valve in the mass of fuel injected by the fuel
carburetor. injector.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras