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Investigations of a new free piston expander engine cycle

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  • Preetham, B.S.
  • Weiss, L.

Abstract

This work examines the design and operation of a new, small-scale FPE (Free Piston Expander) engine that operates using low temperature waste heat sources to produce useful power output. The FPE is based on a sliding-piston architecture that eliminates challenges associated with MEMS-based rotating systems. A nonlinear lumped-parameter model is derived to study the factors that control the performance of the FPE engine and its unique operating cycle. This basic analysis considers a closed cycle operation of the FPE with low thermal or heat inputs and dimensions on the order of several millimeters. Key system design and operating parameters such as piston mass, external load, and heat input are varied to identify conditions and trends for optimal performance. The model indicated the pressure-volume diagram resembles a constant pressure cycle for a certain set of operating conditions but is also condition dependent. Increased heat inputs to the FPE reduced the engine natural or operating frequency while increasing the power output. Thermal efficiencies of the FPE are shown to be predictably low, on the order of 0.2% due to the small heat input and operating temperature gradients associated with waste heat. Key design features are identified that reveal FPE efficiency, operating frequency, and output power are dependent on piston mass, external load, input heat-rate, and duration of heat input.

Suggested Citation

  • Preetham, B.S. & Weiss, L., 2016. "Investigations of a new free piston expander engine cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 535-545.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:106:y:2016:i:c:p:535-545
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.03.082
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Francesconi, M. & Caposciutti, G. & Antonelli, M., 2018. "An experimental and numerical analysis of the performances of a Wankel steam expander," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 615-626.
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    4. Tian, Yaming & Zhang, Hongguang & Li, Jian & Hou, Xiaochen & Zhao, Tenglong & Yang, Fubin & Xu, Yonghong & Wang, Xin, 2018. "Development and validation of a single-piston free piston expander-linear generator for a small-scale organic Rankine cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 809-820.
    5. Hou, Xiaochen & Ji, Deliang & Zhou, Dan & Gao, Haibo, 2023. "Simulation study and performance analysis of free piston linear generator (FPLG) used for ORC system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    6. Tenissara, Nopporn & Thepa, Sirichai & Monyakul, Veerapol, 2018. "Simulation, construction and evaluation of cheap piston expander for low-pressure power generation by compressed air as working fluid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 655-665.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. Burugupally, Sindhu Preetham & Weiss, Leland, 2019. "Design and performance of a miniature free piston expander," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 611-618.
    10. Francesconi, Marco & Dori, Edoardo & Antonelli, Marco, 2019. "Analysis of Balje diagrams for a Wankel expander prototype," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 775-785.
    11. Xu, Yonghong & Tong, Liang & Zhang, Hongguang & Hou, Xiaochen & Yang, Fubin & Yu, Fei & Yang, Yuxin & Liu, Rong & Tian, Yaming & Zhao, Tenglong, 2018. "Experimental and simulation study of a free piston expander–linear generator for small-scale organic Rankine cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 776-791.
    12. Sindhu Preetham Burugupally & Leland Weiss, 2018. "Power Generation via Small Length Scale Thermo-Mechanical Systems: Current Status and Challenges, a Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, August.
    13. Zhuxian Liu & Zhong Wu & Yonghong Xu & Hongguang Zhang & Jian Zhang & Fubin Yang, 2022. "Performance Investigation of Single–Piston Free Piston Expander–Linear Generator with Multi–Parameter Based on Simulation Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-28, November.
    14. Hou, Xiaochen & Zhang, Hongguang & Zhao, Tenglong & Xu, Yonghong & Tian, Yaming & Li, Jian & Zhang, Mengru & Wu, Yuting, 2019. "A comparison study and performance analysis of free piston expander-linear generator for organic Rankine cycle system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 136-143.
    15. Wu, Zhong & Zhang, Hongguang & Liu, Zhongliang & Hou, Xiaochen & Li, Jian & Yang, Fubin & Zhang, Jian, 2021. "Experimental study on the performance of single-piston free-piston expander—linear generator," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    16. Baoying Peng & Kai Zhang & Liang Tong & Yonghong Xu, 2023. "Research on Gas Recycling of Free-Piston Expander–Linear Generator for Organic Rankine Cycle of Vehicle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-16, September.
    17. Bianchi, M. & Branchini, L. & De Pascale, A. & Melino, F. & Ottaviano, S. & Peretto, A. & Torricelli, N., 2019. "Application and comparison of semi-empirical models for performance prediction of a kW-size reciprocating piston expander," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C), pages 143-156.
    18. Thapa, Suvhashis & Borquist, Eric & Weiss, Leland, 2018. "Thermal energy recovery via integrated small scale boiler and superheater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 765-772.

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