Diesel Cycle vs Otto Cycle

  • Both these cycle are air standard cycles of automobile engines. 
  • Otto cycle is used for petrol or spark ignition engine.
  • Diesel cycle is used for diesel or compression ignition engine.
The main difference between Otto cycle and Diesel cycle is that in Otto cycle heat addition takes place at constant volume and in diesel cycle heat addition takes places at constant pressure. This is the major difference between Otto cycle and diesel cycle. There are many other differences which are described below.

Sl.No
Otto Cycle
Diesel Cycle
1
It is ideal cycle for petrol engine.
It is ideal cycle for diesel engine.
2
Otto cycle has higher thermal efficiency.

It has lower thermal efficiency.
3
This cycle has comparatively low compression ratio. It compresses the mixture up to 11:1 ratio.
Diesel cycle has high compression ratio. It compresses the mixture up to 22.1 ratios.
4
Otto cycle engine used spark plunge to ignite the air fuel mixture.

Fuel automatically ignites due to high temperature of compressed gas.
5
Heat addition takes place at constant volume.
Heat addition takes place at constant pressure.
6
Air fuel mixture drawn into the cylinder during intake stroke.
Once air is drawn into intake stroke. Fuel is injected after end or compression stroke by an injector.
7