* Intake stroke: The piston moves down, drawing air and fuel into the cylinder.
* Compression stroke: The piston moves up, compressing the air and fuel mixture.
* Power stroke: The spark plug ignites the air and fuel mixture, creating a controlled explosion that drives the piston down.
* Exhaust stroke: The piston moves up, expelling the exhaust gases from the cylinder.
2. Diesel cycle. This type of engine cycle is used in diesel engines. It is similar to the Otto cycle, but the air is compressed to a much higher pressure before the fuel is injected. This causes the fuel to ignite spontaneously, without the need for a spark plug.
3. Brayton cycle. This type of engine cycle is used in gas turbines. It consists of four stages:
* Compression stage: The air is compressed by a compressor.
* Combustion stage: Fuel is injected into the compressed air and burned.
* Expansion stage: The hot gases expand through a turbine, driving it.
* Exhaust stage: The exhaust gases are expelled from the engine.
4. Rankine cycle. This type of engine cycle is used in steam engines. It consists of four processes:
* Heat addition: Water is heated in a boiler, turning it into steam.
* Expansion: The steam expands through a turbine, driving it.
* Condensation: The steam is condensed back into water in a condenser.
* Pumping: The water is pumped back into the boiler.
