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Disturbance analysis of a free-piston engine generator using a validated fast-response numerical model

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Listed:
  • Jia, Boru
  • Smallbone, Andrew
  • Mikalsen, Rikard
  • Feng, Huihua
  • Zuo, Zhengxing
  • Roskilly, Anthony Paul

Abstract

In this paper, a fast-response numerical model was used to investigate potential disturbances to a free-piston engine generator (FPEG), i.e. engine cycle-to-cycle variations, misfire and immediate electric load change. During the engine operation, there could be one disturbance taking place or several disturbances take place simultaneously. By identifying different types of system disturbance with specific occurring times, the influence on the system was characterised. It was found that a step change of electric load would induce a corresponding top dead centre (TDC) step change. Low variations on piston TDC are observed when cycle-to-cycle variations take place. When unsuccessful ignition occurs, the engine will stop after one oscillation cycle. Reducing the electric load after misfire would cause more oscillation cycles and require a restart of the engine. Technically feasible control variables were identified and coupled with a PI feedback controller design to minimise the impact of each kind of disturbance, a design which could be used in future FPE control system designs. The controller performance was seen to be satisfactory for the electric load step change, and the piston TDC was controlled to back to the set point in 0.5s.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia, Boru & Smallbone, Andrew & Mikalsen, Rikard & Feng, Huihua & Zuo, Zhengxing & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2017. "Disturbance analysis of a free-piston engine generator using a validated fast-response numerical model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 440-451.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:185:y:2017:i:p1:p:440-451
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.10.143
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mikalsen, R. & Roskilly, A.P., 2010. "The control of a free-piston engine generator. Part 1: Fundamental analyses," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1273-1280, April.
    2. Feng, Huihua & Guo, Chendong & Yuan, Chenheng & Guo, Yuyao & Zuo, Zhengxing & Roskilly, Anthony Paul & Jia, Boru, 2016. "Research on combustion process of a free piston diesel linear generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 395-403.
    3. Mikalsen, R. & Jones, E. & Roskilly, A.P., 2010. "Predictive piston motion control in a free-piston internal combustion engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(5), pages 1722-1728, May.
    4. Yuxi Miao & Zhengxing Zuo & Huihua Feng & Chendong Guo & Yu Song & Boru Jia & Yuyao Guo, 2016. "Research on the Combustion Characteristics of a Free-Piston Gasoline Engine Linear Generator during the Stable Generating Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    5. Mikalsen, R. & Roskilly, A.P., 2010. "The control of a free-piston engine generator. Part 2: Engine dynamics and piston motion control," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1281-1287, April.
    6. Jia, Boru & Smallbone, Andrew & Feng, Huihua & Tian, Guohong & Zuo, Zhengxing & Roskilly, A.P., 2016. "A fast response free-piston engine generator numerical model for control applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 321-329.
    7. Jia, Boru & Tian, Guohong & Feng, Huihua & Zuo, Zhengxing & Roskilly, A.P., 2015. "An experimental investigation into the starting process of free-piston engine generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 798-804.
    8. Zhang, Shuanlu & Zhao, Changlu & Zhao, Zhenfeng, 2015. "Stability analysis of hydraulic free piston engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 805-813.
    9. Jia, Boru & Mikalsen, Rikard & Smallbone, Andrew & Zuo, Zhengxing & Feng, Huihua & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2016. "Piston motion control of a free-piston engine generator: A new approach using cascade control," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1166-1175.
    10. Jia, Boru & Zuo, Zhengxing & Feng, Huihua & Tian, Guohong & Smallbone, Andrew & Roskilly, A.P., 2016. "Effect of closed-loop controlled resonance based mechanism to start free piston engine generator: Simulation and test results," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 532-539.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Zhiyuan & Feng, Huihua & Jia, Boru & Zuo, Zhengxing & Yan, Xiaodong & Smallbone, Andrew & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2022. "Identification and analysis on the variation sources of a dual-cylinder free piston engine generator and their influence on system operating characteristics," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    2. Geng, Heming & Wang, Yang & Zhen, Xudong & Liu, Yu & Li, Zhiyong, 2018. "Study on adaptive behavior and mechanism of compression ratio (or piston motion profile) for combustion parameters in hydraulic free piston engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 921-928.
    3. Yan, Xiaodong & Nie, Fuquan & Cui, Huasheng & Feng, Huihua & Jia, Boru & Zuo, Zhengxing & Wang, Yahui, 2024. "Research on the impacts of operating frequency at combustion process for opposed single-cylinder free piston generator under direct injection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    4. Zhao, Xiaohuan & Liu, Fang & Wang, Chunhua, 2022. "Effects of different piston combustion chamber heights on heat transfer and energy conversion performance enhancement of a heavy-duty truck diesel engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    5. Zhang, Zhiyuan & Feng, Huihua & He, Hongwen & Jia, Boru & Zuo, Zhengxing & Liu, Chang & Smallbone, Andrew & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2023. "Demonstration of a single/dual cylinder free-piston engine generator prototype: Milestone achieved on system stability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    6. Zhu, Shunmin & Yu, Guoyao & O, Jongmin & Xu, Tao & Wu, Zhanghua & Dai, Wei & Luo, Ercang, 2018. "Modeling and experimental investigation of a free-piston Stirling engine-based micro-combined heat and power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 522-533.
    7. Boru Jia & Andrew Smallbone & Rikard Mikalsen & K.V. Shivaprasad & Sumit Roy & Anthony Paul Roskilly, 2019. "Performance Analysis of a Flexi-Fuel Turbine-Combined Free-Piston Engine Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-22, July.
    8. Zhou, Yingcong & Sofianopoulos, Aimilios & Gainey, Brian & Lawler, Benjamin & Mamalis, Sotirios, 2019. "A system-level numerical study of a homogeneous charge compression ignition spring-assisted free piston linear alternator with various piston motion profiles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 820-835.

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