| Ericsson Cycle |
Article Index for Ericsson |
Website Links For Ericsson |
Information AboutEricsson Cycle |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ERICSSON CYCLE | |
| thermodynamic cycles | |
| piston engines | |
|
The Ericsson Cycles are named after John Ericsson . He actually invented two such cycles and developed Heat Engines demonstrating them. The first cycle is identical to what we now call the " Brayton Cycle ". The second cycle has all but been lost to history. The second cycle produces efficiencies equivalent to the Carnot Cycle . Both are often compared to a Stirling Engine for their external combustion capabilities, and the second cycles equivalent efficiency. He invented and patented his first cycle, the " Brayton Cycle ", in 1833 (number 6409/1833 British). This was 18 years before Joule and 43 years before Brayton . What Joule contributed to this cycle was nothing and his version is clearly inferior. What Brayton added was internal combustion to an open form of the first Ericsson Cycle, and clearly is an improvement. Brayton accomplished the improvement with pistons and cylinders. The " Brayton Cycle " is now known as the Gas Turbine cycle, which differs from the original " Brayton Cycle " in the use of a turbine compressor and expander. The Gas Turbine cycle is used for all modern Gas Turbine and Turbojet engines. Ericsson 's second cycle was invented in 1853, and was used to power a 2000 ton ship, The Caloric Ship Ericsson and the engine ran flawlessly for 73 hours. The combination engine produced about 300 horsepower. It had a combination of 4 2-piston engines; the larger, the expansion piston/cylinder, being 4.267 meters or 14 feet in diameter--perhaps the largest piston diameter of any engine ever built. Rumor has it that tables were placed on top of those pistons and dinner was served and eaten, while the engine was running at full power. At 6.5 Rpm the pressure was limited to 8 psi. So Ericsson's second cycle has two efficiency wins over Brayton: isothermal compression and expansion produces more net work than adiabatic, and Regeneration reduces heat input. Ericsson coined the term " Regenerator ". For comparisons with other cycles, see Heat Engine . REFERENCES
|
|
|