An Analysis of the Ideal Otto Cycle, Including the Effects of Heat Transfer, Finite Combustion Rates, Chemical Dissociation, and Mechanical Losses

This detailed analysis of the Otto cycle considers the effects of dissociation, finite reaction kinetics, and irreversibilities such as heat transfer and mechanical friction on cycle performance and efficiency, and provides a highly flexible tool for investigating the complex relationships among engine variables.

This mathematical model and the accompanying computer program offer a substantial computational advantage over the previous methods that employ charts and graphs and require a large amount of manual calculations. Also, the ability of this scheme to consider the effects of heat transfer and other irreversibilities considerably increases the value of the results.