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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Boru Jia, Dr Andrew SmallboneORCiD, Dr Rikard Mikalsen, Professor Tony Roskilly
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
In this paper, a fast-response numerical model was used to investigate potential disturbances to a free piston engine generator (FPEG), i.e. engine cycle-to-cycle variations, misfire and immediate electric load change. During the engine operation, there could be one disturbance taking place or several disturbances take place simultaneously. By identifying different types of system disturbance with specific occurring times, the influence on the system was characterised. It was found that a step change of electric load would induce a corresponding top dead centre (TDC) step change. Low variations on piston TDC are observed when cycle-to-cycle variations take place. When unsuccessful ignition occurs, the engine will stop after one oscillation cycle. Reducing the electric load after misfire would cause more oscillation cycles and require a restart of the engine. Technically feasible control variables were identified and coupled with a PI feedback controller design to minimise the impact of each kind of disturbance, a design which could be used in future FPE control system designs. The controller performance was seen to be satisfactory for the electric load step change, and the piston TDC was controlled to back to the set point in 0.5 s.
Author(s): Jia BR, Smallbone A, Mikalsen R, Feng HH, Zuo ZX, Roskilly AP
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Applied Energy
Year: 2017
Volume: 185
Issue: Part 1
Pages: 440-451
Print publication date: 01/01/2017
Online publication date: 10/11/2016
Acceptance date: 16/10/2016
Date deposited: 30/01/2017
ISSN (print): 0306-2619
ISSN (electronic): 1872-9118
Publisher: Elsevier Science Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.10.143
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.10.143
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