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Stable Operation and Electricity Generating Characteristics of a Single-Cylinder Free Piston Engine Linear Generator: Simulation and Experiments

Author

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  • Huihua Feng

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Yu Song

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Zhengxing Zuo

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Jiao Shang

    (School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Yaodong Wang

    (Sir Joseph Swan Centre for Energy Research, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK)

  • Anthony Paul Roskilly

    (Sir Joseph Swan Centre for Energy Research, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK)

Abstract

We present a novel design of a single-cylinder free piston engine linear generator (FPELG) incorporating a linear motor as a rebound device. A systematic simulation model of this FPELG system was built containing a kinematic and dynamic model of the piston and mover, a magneto-electric model of the linear generator, a thermodynamic model of the single-cylinder engine, and a friction model between the piston ring and cylinder liner. Simulations were performed to understand the relationships between pre-set motor parameters and the running performance of the FPELG. From the simulation results, it was found that a motor rebound force with a parabolic profile had clear advantages over a force with a triangular profile, such as a higher running frequency and peak cylinder pressure, faster piston motion, etc. The rebound position and the amplitude of rebound force were also determined by simulations. The energy conversion characteristics of the generator were obtained from our FPELG test rig. The parameters of intake pressure, motor frequency, and load resistance were varied over certain ranges, and relationships among these three parameters were obtained. The electricity-generating characteristic parameters include output power and system efficiency, which can measure the quality of matching the controllable parameters. The output power can reach 25.9 W and the system efficiency can reach 13.7%. The results in terms of matching parameters and electricity-generating characteristics should be useful to future research in adapting these engines to various operating modes.

Suggested Citation

  • Huihua Feng & Yu Song & Zhengxing Zuo & Jiao Shang & Yaodong Wang & Anthony Paul Roskilly, 2015. "Stable Operation and Electricity Generating Characteristics of a Single-Cylinder Free Piston Engine Linear Generator: Simulation and Experiments," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:8:y:2015:i:2:p:765-785:d:45070
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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.
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    Cited by:

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    5. Gaosheng Li & Hongguang Zhang & Fubin Yang & Songsong Song & Ying Chang & Fei Yu & Jingfu Wang & Baofeng Yao, 2016. "Preliminary Development of a Free Piston Expander–Linear Generator for Small-Scale Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) Waste Heat Recovery System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, April.
    6. Xuezhen Wang & Feixue Chen & Renfeng Zhu & Guilin Yang & Chi Zhang, 2018. "A Review of the Design and Control of Free-Piston Linear Generator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, August.
    7. 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.
    8. Hung, Nguyen Ba & Lim, Ocktaeck, 2016. "A review of free-piston linear engines," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 78-97.
    9. Boru Jia & Zhengxing Zuo & Andrew Smallbone & Huihua Feng & Anthony Paul Roskilly, 2017. "A Decoupled Design Parameter Analysis for Free-Piston Engine Generators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14, April.
    10. Ahsan Bashir & Saiful A. Zulkifli & Abd Rashid Abd Aziz & Ezrann ZZ Abidin, 2021. "Impact of Combustion Variance on Sustainability of Free-Piston Linear Generator during Steady-State Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-21, July.
    11. Gao, Yuping & Shao, Shuangquan & Zou, Huiming & Tang, Mingsheng & Xu, Hongbo & Tian, Changqing, 2016. "A fully floating system for a wave energy converter with direct-driven linear generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 99-109.
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