The thermodynamic cycle Brayton cycle can be compared with the Otto cycle to deduce the following points:
- Comparison of Pressure-volume and Temperature-entropy diagrams between the air-standard Brayton cycle and Otto cycle
Pressure-volume and Temperature-entropy diagram for Brayton cycle
Pressure-volume and Temperature-entropy diagram for Otto cycle
- For the same compression ratio and work capacity, Brayton cycle handles a larger range of volume and a smaller range of temperature and pressure.
- A reciprocating engine cannot efficiently handle a large volume flow of low-pressure gas, and the friction losses also become more. So, the Otto cycle is more suitable for the reciprocating type of field.
- An internal combustion engine is exposed to the highest temperature (after combustion of fuel) only for a short duration, and it gets time to become cool in the other processes of the thermodynamic cycle. On the other hand, gas turbine plant, a steady flow device, is always exposed to the highest temperature used. So to protect the material, the maximum temperature of the gas that can be utilized in a gas turbine plant cannot be as high as in an internal combustion engine. In the steady flow machinery, it is harder to carry out heat transfer at constant volume (Otto cycle) than at constant pressure (Brayton cycle).
