A review of internal combustion engine thermodynamic analysis using the second law of thermodynamics

The paper presents the research work done by various authors who have done research in the application of the second law of thermodynamics in analysis of the internal combustion engine and in analysis of the thermodynamics of the combustion process in an engine cylinder in spark- and compression-ignition engines. For several decades now, various authors have been trying to optimize processes in the internal combustion engine, where energy degradations occurs during combustion. It is essential to get a better insight and understanding of the sources for this energy degradation to avoid or diminish them, striving to achieve higher efficiencies of internal combustion engines as the most effective heat engine. One of the most suitable ways in research of energy degradation is application of the second law of thermodynamics in analysis of the process in internal combustion engines. Through the application of the second law of thermodynamics in analysis of the combustion process, the connection between all thermodynamic data with enthropy was achieved. By applying the numerical simulations in modeling the ICE engine processes together with the analysis by the second law of thermodynamics, we get a very potent tool for better insight and optimization of spark- and compression-ignition engines achieving lower fuel consumption and lower emissions.