Comparative analysis of different valve timing control methods for single-piston free piston expander-linear generator via an orthogonal experimental design

Jian Li, Fubin Yang, Hongguang Zhang, Zhong Wu, Yaming Tian, Xiaochen Hou, Yonghong Xu and Jing Ren

Energy, 2020, vol. 195, issue C

Abstract: This paper presents a single-piston free piston expander-linear generator for small-scale organic Rankine cycle. In order to achieve stable operation, two types of valve timing control methods are developed: time control method (TCM) and position control method (PCM). The orthogonal experimental design is adopted to evaluate the influence degree and significance level of different factors on the prototype performance. Results show that the symmetry motion characteristics are worse when the TCM is used than those of the PCM. Furthermore, such characteristics could be improved by appropriately increasing expansion duration and intake duration tBT. For the PCM, operating frequency gradually increases as external resistance, intake pressure, and intake duration but significantly decreases as theoretical stroke. For the TCM, operating frequency is only related with intake and expansion durations. Intake pressure has the greatest influence on the peak power output, peak velocity, and actual stroke length, followed by intake duration. Theoretical stroke is the dominant factor affecting operating frequency, followed by intake pressure, and then by intake duration and external resistance. Thermal-work, work-electric, and thermal-electric conversion efficiencies can achieve a maximum of 5.4%, 28.8%, 1.4%, respectively.

Keywords: Free piston expander; Single piston; Valve timing control method; Orthogonal experimental design; Conversion efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:195:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220300736

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.116966

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