Otto cycle

American  

noun

Thermodynamics.

1. an idealization of the thermodynamic cycle of the internal combustion engine with air as the working substance: intake of air at atmospheric pressure, then adiabatic compression, then ignition with an increase of pressure and temperature at constant volume, then adiabatic expansion and performance of work, then a drop to atmospheric pressure at constant volume and a rejection of heat to the environment, then the exhaust of air at constant pressure.

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Otto cycle British  

noun

1. an engine cycle used on four-stroke petrol engines ( Otto engines ) in which, ideally, combustion and rejection of heat both take place at constant volume Compare diesel cycle

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Etymology

Origin of Otto cycle

1885–90; named after Nikolaus August Otto, 1832–91, German engineer and inventor

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Otto cycle

In the Otto cycle, heat transfer occurs along path DA.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

Path CD in the Otto cycle is an adiabatic expansion that does work on the outside world, just as the power stroke of an internal combustion engine does in its nearly adiabatic expansion.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

Just as discussed for the Otto cycle in the previous section, this means that efficiency is greatest for the highest possible temperature of the hot reservoir and lowest possible temperature of the cold reservoir.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

Along path BC of the Otto cycle, heat transfer Qh into the gas occurs at constant volume, causing a further increase in pressure and temperature.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

Although the Diesel engine suffers upon comparison with the Otto cycle engine in flexibility there seems to be a definite field for employment of Diesels and a gradual extension of their use may be predicted.

From The First Airplane Diesel Engine: Packard Model DR-980 of 1928 by Meyer, Robert B.