PRESSURIZATION EFFECTS IN KINEMATIC HEAT ENGINES

A general treatment of the effects of pressurizing or supercharging reciprocating kinematic engines is presented. This is done in a broad new context which permits analysis of engines with multistroke cycles, pumping loops, and variable buffer pressure. The concept of a monomorphic engine is introduced to analyze various schemes for improving engine performance by charging the workspace or bufferspace. Ideal Stirling engines are shown to have the maximum performance levels possible for general reciprocating engines and so represent the upper limit of pressurization effects.