Evaluation of performance characteristics of a novel hydrogen-fuelled free-piston engine generator

Ngwaka, Ugochukwu; Smallbone, Andrew; Jia, Boru; Lawrence, Christopher; Towell, Ben; Roy, Sumit; Kv, Shivaprasad; Roskilly, Anthony Paul

Abstract

In this work, we present the experimental results obtained from hydrogen fuelled spark-ignited dual piston free-piston engine generator (FPEG) prototype operated in two-stroke and four-stroke mode. The FPEG testing was successfully conducted at 3.7 compression ratio, engine speed between 5 Hz and 11 Hz and with different equivalence ratios. The FPEG technical details, experimental set-up and operational control are explained in detail. Performance indicators show that both equivalence ratio and engine speed affect the engine operation characteristics. For every set of specified FPEG parameters, appropriate range of equivalence ratio is recommended to prevent unwanted disturbance to electric generator operation. Both two-stroke and four-stroke cycle mode were tested, and the results showed different combustion characteristics with the two thermodynamic cycles. Four-stroke cycle mode could operate with indicated thermal efficiency gain up to 13.2% compared with the two-stroke cycle.

Citation

Ngwaka, U., Smallbone, A., Jia, B., Lawrence, C., Towell, B., Roy, S., …Roskilly, A. P. (2021). Evaluation of performance characteristics of a novel hydrogen-fuelled free-piston engine generator. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(66), 33314-33324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.02.072

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 9, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Mar 12, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 22, 2021
• Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
• Print ISSN: 0360-3199
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 66
• Pages: 33314-33324
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.02.072