Hydraulic Free Piston Engine with Electronic Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing free piston engines lack the operational flexibility and energy efficiency due to constraints introduced by the piston and crankshaft mechanism, limiting the extraction of mechanical energy from combustion processes.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic free piston engine with fully variable electronically controlled hydraulic valve actuation and high-pressure electronically controlled fuel injection, utilizing multiple hydraulic plungers to convert chemical energy into hydraulic energy, allowing for controlled piston velocity and position, and incorporating a free piston position sensing system for optimal engine operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a piston and crankshaft mechanism is used in an internal combustion engine, then rotary mechanical energy can be generated, but operational flexibility and energy efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the crankshaft mechanism from the engine system, extracting the constraint that limits operational flexibility. The free piston design eliminates the rigid crankshaft connection, allowing the piston to move independently and enabling variable operating modes such as two-stroke and four-stroke cycles, expansion strokes, and compression strokes without being bound by traditional four-stroke constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of piston motion through electronic valve actuation and hydraulic systems. The piston velocity and position can be precisely controlled in real-time, allowing the engine to adapt to different operating conditions, load requirements, and fuel types dynamically, rather than being fixed by mechanical geometry.
2Power
If a crankshaft mechanism is used to convert piston motion, then rotary mechanical energy is produced, but the amount of useful mechanical energy extracted from combustion is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydraulic systems to control piston motion and recover energy. Hydraulic actuators and fluid pressure systems are used to manage the piston's movement during different strokes, enabling more complete extraction of energy from the combustion process and reducing energy losses that occur in traditional crankshaft mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the engine by allowing variable piston velocities, adjustable compression ratios, and flexible stroke lengths. These parameter changes enable the engine to optimize energy extraction under different operating conditions, improving overall power output and efficiency compared to fixed-parameter crankshaft engines.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hydraulic control systems are added to free piston engines, then operational flexibility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic control system is designed to perform multiple functions: controlling piston motion, managing valve actuation, regulating fuel injection timing, and recovering energy. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining high operational flexibility.
4Power
If electronic control systems are implemented for valve actuation and fuel injection, then energy efficiency and operational flexibility improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor piston position, combustion chamber pressure, and engine operating conditions in real-time. This feedback enables precise control of valve actuation and fuel injection timing, optimizing energy efficiency and power output while managing system complexity through intelligent control algorithms rather than purely mechanical solutions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances operational flexibility and energy efficiency by enabling precise control over piston motion and energy conversion, allowing for flexible fuel usage and efficient mechanical energy extraction, including the ability to start and stop instantly and operate at varying frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
combustion piston converts chemical energy to hydraulic energy
Implementation Method 2
hydraulic control valves, each having a plunger coupled to a respective one of the hydraulic cylinders
Implementation Method 3
multiple hydraulic plungers to convert chemical energy into hydraulic energy
Data Source
AI summary
Hydraulic internal combustion engines having at least one combustion piston not mechanically connected to a crankshaft or any other combustion piston, but instead acting on hydraulic plungers through valving that is electronically controlled to control the piston position and velocity, typically through an intake stroke, a compression stroke, a combustion or power stroke and an exhaust stroke. Electronically controlled fuel injection and electronically controlled engine valves provided great flexibility in the operating cycles that may be used, with the engine pumping hydraulic fluid to a high pressure accumulator for use in hydraulic motors or other hydraulic equipment. Embodiments using high pressure air injection to sustain combustion are also disclosed.