Diesel Cycle

A four-stroke cycle used in diesel engines in which, ideally, combustion takes place at constant pressure. The compression pressure is maintained as the gas volume in the cylinder increases until the combustion process is complete. No engine completely achieves this ideal in practice. Large, slow-running, compression ignition engines tend to constant pressure combustion, whereas small, high-speed engines tend to constant volume combustion.

Also known as Constant Pressure Cycle.