[en] Based on the established irreversible reciprocating Maisotsenko-Brayton cycle (RMBC) model with heat transfer loss (HTL), piston friction loss (PFL) and internal irreversible losses (IIL), this paper derives important parameter expressions such as entropy generation rate ($\mathrm{\sigma <!--\; ??\; -->}$) and ecological objective function (E), and studies the optimal ecological performance of the irreversible RMBC by using the finite-time thermodynamics (FTT) theory. The influences of the outlet temperature of the air saturator (AS), the maximum cycle temperature, the outlet exhaust gas temperature and the mass flow rate (MFR) of the water injected to the cycle on the cycle ecological performance are analyzed by using numerical examples. The performances of the irreversible RMBC and traditional irreversible reciprocating Brayton cycle (RBC) are compared, and the results show that the performance of the M-Brayton cycle is more superior to that of the Brayton cycle.