ABSTRACT
There are many variables affecting the performance of an energy-conversion system. Some of these variables are dominating, while some are not. This chapter identifies these variables and shows how they affect the energy-conversion systems. It approximates the energy-conversion systems with idealized cycles in which all processes are internally reversible. The cycles are Carnot, Rankine, Brayton, Otto, and Diesel. All these cycles are internally reversible. The cycle efficiency is important in engineering cycle analysis. Both Otto and Diesel cycles are the idealized cycles for the spark-ignition engine and the compression-ignition engine, respectively. The main value of the air-standard-cycle approach is to enable engineers to identify the important parameters and to determine qualitatively their influence on the engine performance. The chapter develops the second law cycle efficiency and compares it with the coefficient of performance, which traditionally is used in engineering practice.
