A Free-Piston Linear Generator Control Strategy for Improving Output Power

Chi Zhang; Feixue Chen; Long Li; Zhaoping Xu; Liang Liu; Guilin Yang; Hongyuan Lian; Yingzhong Tian

doi:10.3390/en11010135

Energies (Jan 2018)

A Free-Piston Linear Generator Control Strategy for Improving Output Power

Chi Zhang,
Feixue Chen,
Long Li,
Zhaoping Xu,
Liang Liu,
Guilin Yang,
Hongyuan Lian,
Yingzhong Tian

Affiliations

Chi Zhang: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Technology, Ningbo 315201, China
Feixue Chen: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Technology, Ningbo 315201, China
Long Li: School of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Zhaoping Xu: School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
Liang Liu: School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
Guilin Yang: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Technology, Ningbo 315201, China
Hongyuan Lian: Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment Technology, Ningbo 315201, China
Yingzhong Tian: School of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en11010135
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 1
p. 135

Abstract

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This paper presents a control strategy to improve the output power for a single-cylinder two-stroke free-piston linear generator (FPLG). The comprehensive simulation model of this FPLG is established and the operation principle is introduced. The factors that affect the output power are analyzed theoretically. The characteristics of the piston motion are studied. Considering the different features of the piston motion respectively in acceleration and deceleration phases, a ladder-like electromagnetic force control strategy is proposed. According to the status of the linear electric machine, the reference profile of the electromagnetic force is divided into four ladder-like stages during one motion cycle. The piston motions, especially the dead center errors, are controlled by regulating the profile of the electromagnetic force. The feasibility and advantage of the proposed control strategy are verified through comparison analyses with two conventional control strategies via MatLab/Simulink. The results state that the proposed control strategy can improve the output power by around 7–10% with the same fuel cycle mass.

Published in Energies

ISSN: 1996-1073 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

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