The dual cycle for ICEs

Approximating the combustion process in internal combustion engines as a constant-volume or a constantpressure heat-addition process is overly simplistic and not quite realistic. Probably a better (but slightly more
complex) approach would be to model the combustion process in both gasoline and diesel engines as a
combination of two heat-transfer processes, one at constant volume and the other at constant pressure. The ideal
cycle based on this concept is called the dual cycle

P=cte

v=cte

The relative amounts of heat transferred during each process can be adjusted through a proper choice of the
pressure ratio rp =Px/P2.
Note that both the actual Otto and Diesel cycles can be approximated more closely by the ideal dual cycle by
adjusting the values of r, rc and rp.

r, rc and rp are defined as r =

1
2

rc =

3
2

and rp =

3
=
2 2

Let us derive the expression of the thermal efficiency of the dual cycle.
qin = qin (2-x) + qin (x-3) = cv ( Tx - T2 ) + cp ( T3 Tx)
qout = cv ( T4 T1 )
and

wnet = qin - qout

so that =

= 1-

=1-

4 1
2 + 3

devide by cv T1 up and down

= 1 -

4 1 1
1 2 1 + 3 1 1

Factor out 2 /1 in denominator

= 1 -

4 1 1
2 1 2 1 + 2 1 3 2 2

or
1

4 1 1
3 2 2 + 2 1

4 1 1
( 2 ) 3 1 + 2 1

= 1 -
2 1
or

= 1 -
2 1

(*)

Lets determine the temperature ratios according to the r, rc and rp

Process 2-x at v = cte

Process x-3 at P= cte

4
3

Process 3-4 isentropic

Rewrite

4
1
4
1

1 (1 )1 = 1 (1 )1

Process 1-2 isentropic

= (3)
4

= ( 1 )1

3 2 1
1
)
=
(
)
4
1

= (3

and use previous expressions

= ( )1 1 =

Replace in equ. (*)

= 1 - 1

1
1 + 1

= 1

= ( )1