IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v298y2024ics0360544224011344.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Performance evaluation of linear variable valve actuation for a linear engine generator

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Mingqiang
  • Ngwaka, Ugochukwu
  • Wu, Dawei
  • Wang, Zhongcheng
  • Korbekandi, Ramin Moeini
  • Baker, Nick
  • Tsolakis, Athanasios

Abstract

The Joule cycle Linear Engine Generator (LEG) is a promising power generation technology with the potential to achieve zero carbon emissions. However, the LEG expander valve actuation system presents unique challenges due to its lack of a traditional crankshaft, the need for swift valve lift and reversal, and variable lift. This paper presents a Linear Variable Valve Actuation (LVVA) system for a LEG prototype. The LVVA system is powered by voice coil motors. Rigorous experimental investigations were conducted to analyze crucial performance factors, including energy consumption, force balance, energy flow distribution, and the relationship between valve lift duration and energy consumption. The results show that the LVVA system can achieve the desired valve lift and timing, as well as very small variations in LEG performance compared to the model using an ideal lift curve. The LVVA accounts for approximately 3.59 % of the LEG power output. The energy consumption of 1.607 J per valve stroke provides a slight advantage over traditional actuation systems. The obtained optimal lift curves were used to refine the LEG model. The influence of valve lift curves on LEG performance was evaluated which reveals rapid valve openings and relatively short duration contributing to improved LEG performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Mingqiang & Ngwaka, Ugochukwu & Wu, Dawei & Wang, Zhongcheng & Korbekandi, Ramin Moeini & Baker, Nick & Tsolakis, Athanasios, 2024. "Performance evaluation of linear variable valve actuation for a linear engine generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:298:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224011344
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.131361
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224011344
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.131361?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ngwaka, Ugochukwu & Wu, Dawei & Happian-Smith, Julian & Jia, Boru & Smallbone, Andrew & Diyoke, Chidiebere & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2021. "Parametric analysis of a semi-closed-loop linear joule engine generator using argon and oxy-hydrogen combustion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    2. Wang, Yaodong & Chen, Lin & Jia, Boru & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2017. "Experimental study of the operation characteristics of an air-driven free-piston linear expander," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 93-99.
    3. Pili, R. & García Martínez, L. & Wieland, C. & Spliethoff, H., 2020. "Techno-economic potential of waste heat recovery from German energy-intensive industry with Organic Rankine Cycle technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    4. Hussain, Akhtar & Arif, Syed Muhammad & Aslam, Muhammad, 2017. "Emerging renewable and sustainable energy technologies: State of the art," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 12-28.
    5. 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.
    6. Olabi, A.G. & Obaideen, Khaled & Elsaid, Khaled & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Sayed, Enas Taha & Maghrabie, Hussein M. & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali, 2022. "Assessment of the pre-combustion carbon capture contribution into sustainable development goals SDGs using novel indicators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    7. Korberg, A.D. & Brynolf, S. & Grahn, M. & Skov, I.R., 2021. "Techno-economic assessment of advanced fuels and propulsion systems in future fossil-free ships," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    8. Li, Mingqiang & Ngwaka, Ugochukwu & Moeini Korbekandi, Ramin & Baker, Nick & Wu, Dawei & Tsolakis, Athanasios, 2023. "A closed-loop linear engine generator using inert gases: A performance and exergy study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    9. Ngwaka, Ugochukwu & Jia, Boru & Lawrence, Christopher & Wu, Dawei & Smallbone, Andrew & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2019. "The characteristics of a Linear Joule Engine Generator operating on a dry friction principle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C), pages 49-59.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Olabi, A.G. & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali, 2022. "Renewable energy and climate change," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    2. 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.
    3. Wu, Zhong & Zhang, Hongguang & Liu, Zhongliang & Tian, Guohong & Hou, Xiaochen & Yang, Fubin, 2022. "Force and energy analysis of single-piston free-piston expander—linear generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    4. Yang, Fubin & Zhang, Hongguang & Hou, Xiaochen & Tian, Yaming & Xu, Yonghong, 2019. "Experimental study and artificial neural network based prediction of a free piston expander-linear generator for small scale organic Rankine cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 630-644.
    5. Gen Chen & Ugochukwu Ngwaka & Dawei Wu & Mingqiang Li, 2024. "Performance and Emission Optimisation of an Ammonia/Hydrogen Fuelled Linear Joule Engine Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-21, March.
    6. Guo, Chendong & Zuo, Zhengxing & Feng, Huihua & Jia, Boru & Roskilly, Tony, 2020. "Review of recent advances of free-piston internal combustion engine linear generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    7. Li, Mingqiang & Ngwaka, Ugochukwu & Moeini Korbekandi, Ramin & Baker, Nick & Wu, Dawei & Tsolakis, Athanasios, 2023. "A closed-loop linear engine generator using inert gases: A performance and exergy study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    8. Zhang, Chen & Sun, Zongxuan, 2017. "Trajectory-based combustion control for renewable fuels in free piston engines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 72-83.
    9. Shi, Xueli & Liang, Bingchen & Li, Shaowu & Zhao, Jianchun & Wang, Junhui & Wang, Zhenlu, 2024. "Wave energy resource classification system for the China East Adjacent Seas based on multivariate clustering," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    10. Moghadam, Saman Salehi & Gholamian, Mohammad Reza & Zahedi, Rahim & Shaqaqifar, Maziar, 2024. "Designing a multi-purpose network of sustainable and closed-loop renewable energy supply chain, considering reliability and circular economy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 369(C).
    11. Qusay Abu-Afifeh & Michel Rahbeh & Aya Al-Afeshat & Saif Al-Omari & Tala Amer Qutishat & Ali Brezat & Ali Alkayed, 2023. "Dam Sustainability’s Interdependency with Climate Change and Dam Failure Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, November.
    12. Peng Sun & Chi Zhang & Jinhua Chen & Fei Zhao & Youyong Liao & Guilin Yang & Chinyin Chen, 2016. "Decoupling Design and Verification of a Free-Piston Linear Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-23, December.
    13. Ahmed M. Nassef & Ahmed Handam, 2022. "Parameter Estimation-Based Slime Mold Algorithm of Photocatalytic Methane Reforming Process for Hydrogen Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, March.
    14. Ramin Moeini Korbekandi & Nick J. Baker & Mehmet C. Kulan & Aslan S. Jalal & Dawei Wu & Mingqiang Li, 2022. "Dynamic Characteristics and Demonstration of an Integrated Linear Engine Generator with Alternative Electrical Machines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-20, July.
    15. Daniel Ştefan Armeanu & Georgeta Vintilă & Ştefan Cristian Gherghina, 2017. "Does Renewable Energy Drive Sustainable Economic Growth? Multivariate Panel Data Evidence for EU-28 Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-21, March.
    16. Nowotny, Janusz & Dodson, John & Fiechter, Sebastian & Gür, Turgut M. & Kennedy, Brendan & Macyk, Wojciech & Bak, Tadeusz & Sigmund, Wolfgang & Yamawaki, Michio & Rahman, Kazi A., 2018. "Towards global sustainability: Education on environmentally clean energy technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2541-2551.
    17. A. G. Olabi & Khaled Obaideen & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem & Maryam Nooman AlMallahi & Nabila Shehata & Abdul Hai Alami & Ayman Mdallal & Asma Ali Murah Hassan & Enas Taha Sayed, 2023. "Wind Energy Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals: Case Study on London Array," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, March.
    18. Le Thanh Tiep & Ngo Quang Huan & Tran Thi Thuy Hong, 2020. "The Impact of Renewable Energy on Sustainable Economic Growth in Vietnam," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(6), pages 359-369.
    19. Gul, Eid & Baldinelli, Giorgio & Bartocci, Pietro & Shamim, Tariq & Domenighini, Piergiovanni & Cotana, Franco & Wang, Jinwen & Fantozzi, Francesco & Bianchi, Francesco, 2023. "Transition toward net zero emissions - Integration and optimization of renewable energy sources: Solar, hydro, and biomass with the local grid station in central Italy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 672-686.
    20. Calise, Francesco & Cappiello, Francesco Liberato & Cimmino, Luca & Dentice d’Accadia, Massimo & Vicidomini, Maria, 2024. "A solar-assisted liquefied biomethane production by anaerobic digestion: Dynamic simulations for harbors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:298:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224011344. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.