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Experimental Evaluation of the Free Piston Engine - Linear Alternator (FPLA)

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1177159· OSTI ID:1177159
 [1];  [1]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

This report describes the experimental evaluation of a prototype free piston engine - linear alternator (FPLA) system developed at Sandia National Laboratories. The opposed piston design wa developed to investigate its potential for use in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The system is mechanically simple with two - stroke uniflow scavenging for gas exchange and timed port fuel injection for fuel delivery, i.e. no complex valving. Electrical power is extracted from piston motion through linear alternators wh ich also provide a means for passive piston synchronization through electromagnetic coupling. In an HEV application, this electrical power would be used to charge the batteries. The engine - alternator system was designed, assembled and operated over a 2 - year period at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA. This report primarily contains a description of the as - built system, modifications to the system to enable better performance, and experimental results from start - up, motoring, and hydrogen combus tion tests.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies Program (EE-2G)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1177159
Report Number(s):
SAND2015--2095; 569665
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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