Existing state of art of free-piston engines
Institute of Technology, Department of Agricultural and Production Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr.R. Kreutzwaldi 56, EE51014 Tartu, Estonia
*Correspondence: veljo.raide@emu.ee
Abstract:
Free-piston engines (FPE), as power generators for electricity and hydropower solutions, have come under intensive research and development during the last decade. The rapid development of information technology provides an opportunity to return to FPE technology development due to better levels of control and management in terms of the engine’s work. What is more, changed environmental requirements are imposing stricter conditions upon the development of internal combustion engines. More effective solutions which ensure lower exhaust emissions, which are able to consume a variety of conventional and renewable fuels without any engine modification or rebuild taking place, and which work well with a very wide variety of ambient temperature conditions. However, commercially available or production-ready compact and stable free-piston engine solution are still absent. The objectives of this article are the innovative and novel features of FPE and their influence on engine operations and power production. The article maps the FPE technology and conducts a fact analysis. Various technical solutions, experiments, and mathematical calculations are discussed and are presented critically, along with potential pros and cons. This paper will epitomise the discussions outlined above with one possible theoretical technical solution for FPE, this being the electrical power generator.
Key words:
engine generator, free-piston linear alternator, internal combustion engine