Closed System Cycles

In this chapter we study thermodynamic cycles in closed systems which model thermal engines, including internal combustion engines. The focus lies on the understanding of the working principles of the cycles, and on the main parameters that determine their efficiency. For this it is customary to base the analysis on reversible processes, which allow a full analysis. After a general discussion of cycles and their efficiencies or COP’s, we consider Carnot heat, refrigeration and heat pump cycles, followed by discussions of internal combustion engines operating on Otto, Diesel, and Atkinson cycles.