Recent commercial free-piston engine developments for automotive applications

Free-piston engines have been under extensive investigation in recent years, however have not yet seen commercial success in modern applications. This paper reviews some of the recently reported commercial developments in free-piston engine systems particularly aimed for use in hybrid electric vehicle powertrains and discuss these in light of published research. By looking at recent publications, and in particular patent documents, from major industrial players, insight into the less widely reported commercial research efforts on free-piston engines is obtained. Further, these publications provide a useful indication as to what these developers see as the main technical challenges for this technology.

[1]  Siqin Chang,et al.  Thermodynamic Simulation and Prototype Testing of a Four-Stroke Free-Piston Engine , 2014 .

[2]  Wen Li,et al.  Multi-dimensional scavenging analysis of a free-piston linear alternator based on numerical simulation , 2011 .

[3]  Siqin Chang,et al.  Prototype testing and analysis of a novel internal combustion linear generator integrated power system , 2010 .

[4]  Jin Xiao,et al.  Simulation of a Two-Stroke Free-Piston Engine for Electrical Power Generation , 2008 .

[5]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  A computational study of free-piston diesel engine combustion , 2009 .

[6]  Chia-Jui Chiang,et al.  Dynamic modeling of a SI/HCCI free-piston engine generator with electric mechanical valves , 2013 .

[7]  Changlu Zhao,et al.  An experimental study of the cycle stability of hydraulic free-piston engines , 2013 .

[8]  Tor Arne Johansen,et al.  Free-piston diesel engine timing and control - toward electronic cam- and crankshaft , 2002, IEEE Trans. Control. Syst. Technol..

[9]  Richard J. Atkinson,et al.  Numerical Simulation of a Two-Stroke Linear Engine-Alternator Combination , 1999 .

[10]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  A review of free-piston engine history and applications , 2007 .

[11]  Huihua Feng,et al.  Oscillation Characteristic of Single Free Piston Engine Generator , 2011 .

[12]  Jaeheun Kim,et al.  Simulation on the effect of the combustion parameters on the piston dynamics and engine performance using the Wiebe function in a free piston engine , 2013 .

[13]  Takahiro Ito,et al.  Fundamental test results of a hydraulic free piston internal combustion engine , 2004 .

[14]  Miriam Bergman.  CFD Modelling of a Free-Piston Engine Using Detailed Chemistry , 2006 .

[15]  Parviz Famouri,et al.  Integrated design of linear alternator/engine system for HEV auxiliary power unit , 2001, IEMDC 2001. IEEE International Electric Machines and Drives Conference (Cat. No.01EX485).

[16]  Jibin Hu,et al.  Mathematical modelling of a hydraulic free-piston engine considering hydraulic valve dynamics , 2011 .

[17]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  Performance simulation of a spark ignited free-piston engine generator , 2008 .

[18]  Zhengxing Zuo,et al.  Parameters coupling designation of diesel free-piston linear alternator , 2011 .

[19]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  The design and simulation of a two-stroke free-piston compression ignition engine for electrical power generation , 2008 .

[20]  M.N. Karsiti,et al.  Starting of a free-piston linear engine-generator by mechanical resonance and rectangular current commutation , 2008, 2008 IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference.

[21]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  The fuel efficiency and exhaust gas emissions of a low heat rejection free-piston diesel engine , 2009 .

[22]  Douglas Carter,et al.  The Free Piston Power Pack: Sustainable Power for Hybrid Electric Vehicles , 2003 .

[23]  Peter Van Blarigan,et al.  Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition with a Free Piston: A New Approach to Ideal Otto Cycle Performance , 1998 .

[24]  J. Hansson,et al.  Performance of a Series Hybrid Electric Vehicle with a Free-Piston Energy Converter , 2006, 2006 IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference.

[25]  Jörgen Hansson,et al.  Analysis and control of a hybrid vehicle powered by free-piston energy converter , 2006 .

[26]  Peter Van Blarigan,et al.  A numerical study of a free piston ic engine operating on homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion , 1999 .

[27]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  Coupled dynamic-multidimensional modelling of free-piston engine combustion. ⋆ , 2009 .

[28]  Němeček Pavel,et al.  Modeling and Control of Linear Combustion Engine , 2004 .

[29]  Csaba Toth-Nagy,et al.  Linear engine development for series hybrid electric vehicles , 2004 .

[30]  Lixin Peng,et al.  Free Piston Engine Its Application and Optimization , 2000 .

[31]  F. Rinderknecht,et al.  A highly efficient energy converter for a hybrid vehicle concept - focused on the linear generator of the next generation , 2013, 2013 Eighth International Conference and Exhibition on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER).

[32]  Sorin Petreanu,et al.  Conceptual analysis of a four -stroke linear engine , 2001 .

[33]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  The control of a free-piston engine generator. Part 1: Fundamental analyses , 2010 .

[34]  P. Deutsch,et al.  In-cycle thermodynamic model of linear combustion engine , 2006, 2006 IEEE Conference on Computer Aided Control System Design, 2006 IEEE International Conference on Control Applications, 2006 IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Control.

[35]  Tor Arne Johansen,et al.  Free-piston diesel engine dynamics and control , 2001, Proceedings of the 2001 American Control Conference. (Cat. No.01CH37148).

[36]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  The control of a free-piston engine generator. Part 2: Engine dynamics and piston motion control , 2010 .

[37]  Matti Vilenius,et al.  First Cycles of the Dual Hydraulic Free Piston Engine , 2000 .

[38]  Gem Vael,et al.  Horsepower with Brains - The design of the CHIRON Free Piston Engine , 2000 .

[39]  P. Achten.  A Review of Free Piston Engine Concepts , 1994 .

[40]  Frank Rinderknecht,et al.  The Free-Piston Linear Generator Potentials and Challenges , 2013 .

[41]  Christopher F. Edwards,et al.  Emissions from an extreme-compression, free-piston engine with diesel-style combustion , 2012 .

[42]  Yang Wang,et al.  Numerical analysis of two-stroke free piston engine operating on HCCI combustion , 2011 .

[43]  Ingemar Denbratt,et al.  Simulation of a Two-Stroke Free Piston Engine , 2004 .

[44]  Huihua Feng,et al.  Load Following Controller for Single Free-Piston Generator , 2012 .

[45]  Ezrann Zharif Zainal Abidin,et al.  Investigation of Starting Behaviour of a Free-piston Linear Generator , 2012 .

[46]  Changlu Zhao,et al.  An experimental study of the hydraulic free piston engine , 2012 .

[47]  W. M. Arshad.  A Low-Leakage Linear Transverse-Flux Machine for a Free-Piston Generator , 2003 .

[48]  Zhen Huang,et al.  Motion characteristic of a free piston linear engine , 2010 .

[49]  R. Mikalsen,et al.  Predictive piston motion control in a free-piston internal combustion engine ✩ , 2010 .