To clarify some of this a little, (my understanding of what you are trying to to say)Tom Booth wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2024 11:05 amSays who?Fool wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2024 6:37 am ...
Piston speed, 1/2MV^2, is the result of work out from the gas, as P3 reaches P1 the speed is at a maximum. If it passes that point the inside pressure drops below the outside pressure and the piston begins to slow. This means the working gas is reabsorbing energy from the piston's momentum.
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BTW, I assume you mean. Well, let's just say I don't know what you mean by "as P3 reaches P1 the speed is at a maximum".
Speed of what? At what point?
Your understanding of engine mechanics and piston motion seems out of touch with reality.
Anyway, ignoring that, you go on to say: " If it (the piston) passes that point" (which it does about midway down the cylinder towards BDC), "the inside pressure drops below the outside pressure and the piston begins to slow. "
OK, so far. Sort of.
Your physics understanding is not too keen either.This means the working gas is reabsorbing energy from the piston's momentum.
During the expansion stroke, the working fluid is doing work pushing the piston, regardless if the piston is accelerating or decelerating, as it moves toward BDC or full expansion.
But your description of the sequence of events is discombobulated.
That makes no sense.as P3 reaches P1 the speed is at a maximum. If it passes that point the inside pressure drops below the outside pressure and the piston begins to slow.
At P1 the piston is stopped. Motionless. About to change direction. Is not P1 the starting pressure?
OK supposing the pressure drops midway to BDC. That does not change the fact that: During the expansion stroke, the working fluid is doing work pushing the piston, regardless if the piston is accelerating or decelerating, as it moves toward BDC or full expansion. To say that "the working gas is reabsorbing energy from the piston's momentum" is wrong
When I said above:
There should be a question mark.Anyway, ignoring that, you go on to say: " If it (the piston) passes that point" (which it does about midway down the cylinder towards BDC ?), "the inside pressure drops below the outside pressure and the piston begins to slow. "
I don't think I can agree with your statement: "as P3 reaches P1 the speed is at a maximum". regardless of which way the piston is, or was traveling.
There are several ACTUAL real time recorded PV tracing posted in the forum. It might help clarify things if you could indicate where in such a PV diagram you would locate P1, P2, P3, the outside atmospheric pressure (horizontal) and so forth.
Generally, if your "P1" is atmospheric pressure or about 15psi that generally occurs at, or near TDC and BDC, at the end of the power stroke the pressure falls below atmosphere and the piston returns. At or near the end of the compression stroke (or TDC) the pressure increases crossing the line of 1ATM and again at that point the piston reverses direction to begin the power/expansion stroke.
Where you get that: "as P3 reaches P1 the speed is at a maximum".
Or that the piston slowing down during the power stroke means:
That is probably true on the return stroke... the working gas is reabsorbing energy from the piston's momentum.
I suppose, maybe you could say the return stroke is "powered by" the power stroke, or the energy "stored" in the "buffer" (atmosphere) and, so...
That is returned and converted back into heat during the compression stroke. But when the pressure is at or near atmosphere, the piston is at or near a complete standstill about to reverse direction.
The engine also has a great mechanical advantage as it approaches BDC and TDC, if it has a crankshaft.and connecting rod.