thermodynamic cycle

thermodynamic cycle [¦thər·mō·dī′nam·ik ′sī·kəl]

(thermodynamics)

A procedure or arrangement in which some material goes through a cyclic process and one form of energy, such as heat at an elevated temperature from combustion of a fuel, is in part converted to another form, such as mechanical energy of a shaft, the remainder being rejected to a lower temperature sink. Also known as heat cycle.