Thermodynamic Limits of Work and Pressure Gain in Combustion and Evaporation Processes

Combustion and evaporation processes occurring in a closed chamber can result in significant pressure rise and direct work transfer. The pressure and volumetric changes that accompany such processes allow substantial work potential to be achieved in cyclic nonsteady devices, such as internal combustion engines and pulsed combustion or detonation engines. The ideal pressure gain or work production is a function of the prescribed inflow and outflow conditions, volumetric confinement, fluid properties, and other parameters. The generalized thermodynamic limits of pressure gain and work production in such devices are investigated. Analytic and iterative methods are provided to evaluate cyclic combustion and evaporation processes for enhancing airbreathing combustion engine performance.