Free Energy and Internal Combustion Engine Cycles

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the performance of internal combustion engine cycles using thermodynamic free energies, highlighting differences from external combustion engines governed by Carnot's rule.

Contribution

It introduces a thermodynamic free energy framework to evaluate ICE cycle performance, distinguishing it from external combustion engine principles.

Findings

ICE performance varies from ECE due to free energy considerations

Thermodynamic analysis provides new insights into ICE efficiency

Differences from Carnot cycle are clarified

Abstract

The performance of one type (Carnot) of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cycle is analyzed within the framework of thermodynamic free energies. ICE performance is different from that of an External Combustion Engine (ECE) which is dictated by Carnot's rule.