Optimum compression ratio for an Otto cycle engine

by Richard Curtis

Submitted : Spring 2013

The purpose of this project is to calculate the optimum compression ratio for an Otto cycle engine. The cycle is comprised of four steps involving temperature, pressure, and volume. By manipulating the formulas given for ideal gases and by the laws of thermal dynamics into the given formula for work, it is possible to determine the volume compression ratio that will yield the most energy. From this it is then possible to calculate the theoretical horsepower of this engine under the given conditions.

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