The Diesel Cycle: c = 1005 J/Kg K c = 718 J/kg γ = 1.4 R = 287 J/kg K

The Diesel Cycle
cp = 1005 J/Kg K
To simplify the analysis, we will assume these to be constant. For cv = 718 J/kg
more accuracy, variations with temperature occur and tables are γ = 1.4
required.
R = 287 J/kg K
EAT223 Thermofluids and Engines
Introduction
• Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (born in Paris to German parents, March 18, 1858; last seen
alive September 29, 1913) was a European inventor and mechanical engineer, famous
for the invention of the diesel engine.
• In the diesel engine, ignition is caused by compression instead of a spark.
• This requires much higher cylinder pressures
• The machine cycle can be summarised as follows:

➢ Intake: also known as induction or suction
➢ Compression
➢ Ignition/Power stroke
➢ Exhaust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTAUq6G9apg
The Diesel Cycle
1 to 2: isentropic compression
2 to 3: reversible constant
pressure heating
3 to 4: isentropic expansion
4 to 1 reversible constant
volume cooling
The Diesel Cycle
Thermal Efficiency
Wout Q in  Q out Q out

   1
Qin Q in Q in
Q in  mc p (T3  T2 )
Qout  mcv (T1  T4 )
mcv (T4  T1 ) (T4  T1 )

  1  1
mc p (T3  T2 )  (T3  T2 )
The Diesel Cycle
The Diesel Cycle
For the diesel cycle, two ratios are defined
V1
Compression ratio rv 
V2
V3
Cut - off ratio rc 
V2
After some rearranging, we get the following expression for efficiency
1  rc  1 

n  1   1  
rv   (rc  1) 
Don’t worry – it is on the formulae sheet!
The Diesel Cycle
1. An engine using the diesel cycle has a compression ratio of 20:1 and a cut off
ratio of 2. At the start of the compression stroke the air is at 1 bar and 15 oC.
Calculate:
The air standard efficiency of the cycle [64.7%]
The maximum temperature of the cycle [1907 K]
The heat input per kg of air [958.5 kJ/kg]
The net work output per kg of air [620 kJ/kg]
2. Calculate the thermal efficiency of an air standard Diesel cycle with a

compression ratio of 15:1 and maximum and minimum cycle temperatures of
1650 oC and 25 oC respectively. The maximum cycle pressure is 45 bar.
[59.5 %]
The Diesel Cycle
▪ The original Diesel cycle is a good model for relatively slow speed engines e.g. marine
diesel engines.
▪ For modern high speed diesel engines, such as those found in cars, the dual cycle provides
a better description.
▪ In this, fuel injection starts before the point of maximum compression.
▪ After a short delay, during which fuel accumulates in the cylinder, the fuel warms up to the
air temperature and detonates, causing a sudden rise in pressure.
▪ This is shown as a constant volume (isochoric) heating process.
▪ Further injection keeps the fuel burning as the volume increases, producing the constant
pressure heating process, as before.
▪ The ideal dual cycle is shown on the next slide.
▪ Examples of how to analyse this are given in the Engineering Council notes. However, we
won’t cover it in any more detail in this course.
The Diesel Cycle
Note that diesel engines are not inherently more efficient than petrol engines – for a given
compression ratio, the Otto cycle is more efficient.
Higher compression ratios give diesel engines their higher efficiency – ratios not possible in
petrol engines, due to pre-ignition (the tendency for the charge to ignite spontaneously,
before the spark)
Mean effective pressure
A term frequently used in conjunction with reciprocating engines is the mean effective
pressure (MEP) (or indicated mean effective pressure).
■ It is a fictitious pressure that, if it acted on the piston during the entire power
stroke, would produce the same amount of net work as that produced during
the actual cycle.
■ The mean effective pressure will be calculated through the Work
W  F x l  MEP x A x l
A: cross sectional area of the piston Displacement (swept) volume
l: stroke length
Wnet
 MEP 
Vmax  Vmin
■ MEP can be used as a parameter to compare the performance of engines of equal size.
■ The engine with a larger MEP delivers more net work per cycle and thus performs better.
Final example
An ideal Diesel cycle with air as the working fluid has a compression ratio of 18 and a cut off
ratio of 2. At the beginning of the compression process the working fluid is at 100 kPa, 27 oC,
and 1917 cm3. Calculate:
i. The temperature and pressure of air at the end of each process
ii. The net work output and air standard efficiency.

[1.35 kJ; 63.2%]
(calculate the mass of air; do not assume /kg)
iii. The mean effective pressure. [746 kPa]

The Diesel Cycle: c = 1005 J/Kg K c = 718 J/kg γ = 1.4 R = 287 J/kg K

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The Diesel Cycle

• In the diesel engine, ignition is caused by compression instead of a spark.

• This requires much higher cylinder pressures

• The machine cycle can be summarised as follows:

Wout Q in  Q out Q out

Qout  mcv (T1  T4 )

mcv (T4  T1 ) (T4  T1 )

After some rearranging, we get the following expression for efficiency

The heat input per kg of air [958.5 kJ/kg]

The net work output per kg of air [620 kJ/kg]

2. Calculate the thermal efficiency of an air standard Diesel cycle with a

■ The mean effective pressure will be calculated through the Work

i. The temperature and pressure of air at the end of each process

ii. The net work output and air standard efficiency.

iii. The mean effective pressure. [746 kPa]

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