Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-169) and index.

Energy Transfers in Cyclic Heat Engines -- Heat Engine Diagrams -- The Basic Cyclic Heat Engine -- Buffer Pressure -- Shaft Work -- Buffer Pressure and Energy Transfers -- Mechanism Effectiveness and Mechanical Efficiency -- Mechanism Effectiveness -- Mechanical Efficiency -- Forced Work -- General Efficiency Limits -- The Fundamental Efficiency Theorem -- Stirling Comparison Theorem -- Constant Mechanism Effectiveness -- Optimum Buffer Pressure -- Optimally Buffered Stirling Engines -- The Mechanical Efficiency Limit -- The Brake Thermal Efficiency Limit -- Average Cycle and Optimum Buffer Pressure -- Compression Ratio and Shaft Work -- Limits on Compression Ratio -- Shaft Work Limits -- Temperature Effects -- Proof of the Maximum Shaft Work Theorem -- Pressurization Effects -- System Charging Monomorphic Engines -- Engines Charged Above Buffer Pressure -- Workspace Charging Theorem -- Charge Effects in Ideal Stirling Engines -- Workspace Charging Ideal Stirling Engines -- Efficacious Cycles -- Non-Efficacious Cycles -- Practical Implications -- Crossley-Stirling Engines -- Crossley Cycles -- Crossley Cycle Analysis -- Forced Work of the Crossley Cycle -- The Swept Volume Ratio Problem -- Conclusions -- Generalized Engine Cycles and Variable -- Buffer Pressure -- Parametric Representation -- Average Cycle Pressures -- Variable Buffer Pressure -- Buffer Pressure and Energy Transfers -- Mechanical Efficiency -- Pressurization Effects -- Multi-workspace Engines and Heat Pumps -- Multi-cylinder Engines -- Split-workspace Engines -- Engines with Double-acting Pistons -- Double-acting Split-workspace Engines -- Heat Pumps -- Optimum Stirling Engine Geometry -- The Gamma Engine -- The Schmidt Analysis -- The Schmidt Model for Gamma Engines -- Indicated Work -- Shaft Work -- Parameter Effects on Brake Output -- Optimum Swept Volume Ratio and Phase Angle -- Swept Volume Ratios -- Internal Temperatures -- Indicated Work Maxima -- Phase Angle -- Dead Space Effects -- Alternate Engine Configurations -- Conclusions -- Heat Transfer Effects -- Heat Exchange -- Heat Transfer Assumptions -- Maximum Indicated Power -- Maximum Brake Power -- Brake Thermal Efficiency at Maximum Power -- Heat Losses in Stirling Engines -- Maximum Indicated Power with Heat Leakage -- Operating Frequency and Temperature Ratio in Stirling -- Engines -- Maximum Brake Power of Stirling Engines with Heat Loss -- Universal Power Maxima -- Power Relative to Efficiency -- A General Theory of Machines, Effectiveness, and Efficiency -- Kinematic Machines -- State Parameter -- Actuator Forces -- Force Relation -- Internal Energy -- Force Processes -- Frictional Dissipation -- Graphical Representation -- Reversed Operation -- Mechanism Effectiveness -- Content of the Effectiveness Function -- Actuator Work -- Constant Internal Energy -- An Ultra Low Temperature Differential Stirling Engine -- Background -- Compression Ratio Limits -- Mean Volume Specific Work -- Engine Performance -- Derivation of Schmidt Gamma Equations -- Volume and Pressure Functions -- Indicated Work -- Forced Work.

"This book presents a newly developed general conceptual and basic quantitative analysis of the mechanical efficiency of heat engines. The book presents a theory of mechanical efficiency at a level of ideality and generality compatible with the treatment-given to thermal efficiency in classical thermodynamics. This yields broad bearing results concerning the overall cyclic conversion of heat into usable mechanical energy."--BOOK JACKET.

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