PV TS Diagram for Diesel EnginesThe Diesel cycle is assumed to have constant pressure during the initial part of the combustion phase. This is an idealized mathematical model: real physical diesel engines show a pressure increase during this period, but it is less pronounced than in the Otto cycle. In contrast, the idealized Otto cycle of a gasoline engine approximates a constant volume process during this phase.
Processes in the Diesel Cycle:
Process 2-3: Heat Addition with Constant Pressure (Isobaric)
Process 3-4: Isentropic Expansion
Process 4-1: Constant Volume (Isochoric) Heat Rejection
Process 1-2: Isentropic Compression
This cycle can operate with a higher compression ratio than the Otto cycle because only the air is compressed and there is no risk of the fuel self-igniting. Although for a given compression ratio the Otto cycle has greater efficiency, because the Diesel engine can be operated at higher compression ratios, the engine can actually have greater efficiency than an Otto cycle when both are operated at compression ratios that can be achieved in practice.







