Back

Thermodynamic Engine Simulator

A piston-cylinder engine running a chosen ideal-gas cycle. The gas molecules and piston track the live temperature and volume, the P-V loop traces with a moving operating point, and an energy-flow diagram splits Q_hot into work and Q_cold with the efficiency. Carnot, Otto, Diesel and Stirling cycles, reversible to a refrigerator.

Figure 1. Piston-cylinder engine, live P-V loop and energy-flow diagram.

WHAT TO TRY

  • Vary each control and watch the rail readouts respond.
  • Compare the diagnostic plot against the live scene.