Ericsson cycle

An ideal regenerative thermodynamic cycle with isothermal compression and expansion and constant-pressure heat transfer. With perfect regeneration, its efficiency equals the Carnot efficiency between the same temperature limits.

Isothermal process: A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant temperature. The cycle compresses and expands its working fluid isothermally.
Thermodynamic cycle: A sequence of thermodynamic processes that returns a system to its initial state. The Ericsson cycle is a closed sequence that produces net work.
Stirling engine: A regenerative external-combustion engine that uses isothermal compression and expansion with constant-volume heat transfer. It shares regenerative isothermal processes but uses constant-volume rather than constant-pressure heat transfer.
Brayton cycle: A gas-turbine cycle with constant-pressure heat addition and rejection and approximately isentropic compression and expansion. Both use constant-pressure heat transfer, but Ericsson replaces adiabatic legs with isothermal processes and regeneration.
Isobaric process: A thermodynamic process that occurs at constant pressure. The cycle transfers heat during its two constant-pressure processes.
Reversible process: An ideal process that can be reversed without leaving a net change in the system and surroundings. The ideal cycle assumes reversible processes to reach Carnot efficiency.
Closed-cycle gas turbine: A gas turbine that circulates a sealed working fluid through compression, heating, expansion, and cooling. Ericsson-like regeneration can improve efficiency in closed-cycle gas power systems.
Rankine cycle: A vapor power cycle that generates work by expanding and condensing a working fluid, commonly water. It is a practical power-cycle alternative that relies on phase change rather than Ericsson's ideal gas processes.
Regenerative heat exchanger: A heat exchanger that stores heat from one part of a cycle and returns it during another. It stores heat during cooling and supplies that heat during heating.
Working fluid: A substance that carries energy through a thermodynamic system by changing pressure, temperature, or phase. Its compression, expansion, and heat exchange trace the cycle's states.

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