초록 ▼

Method and arrangement for providing an energy converter that includes a combustion system (1) including at least one piston (2, 3), at least one combustion chamber (6, 7) having at least one inlet (11, 13) and at least one outlet (10, 12) with inlet and outlet valves (14, 15, 16, 17). At least one

Method and arrangement for providing an energy converter that includes a combustion system (1) including at least one piston (2, 3), at least one combustion chamber (6, 7) having at least one inlet (11, 13) and at least one outlet (10, 12) with inlet and outlet valves (14, 15, 16, 17). At least one controllable inlet valve and at least one outlet valve is also provided. A fuel supply is provided (18, 19) for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen is provided for induction into the combustion chamber (6, 7). An electric machine (9) is arranged to interact directly or indirectly with the piston (2, 3) in an electromagnetic manner such that it produces electrical energy from the piston movements, as well as uses electrical energy to affect the piston movement. A control unit (30) controls the combustion system (1) and the electric machine (9). The energy converter is arranged to adapt its power output depending on the required load of the energy converter. The invention also relates to a method for starting an energy converter.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An energy converter, comprising: a free piston engine having a piston unit that comprises a) a piston or b) pistons that are connected together so as to reciprocate with each other; at least one combustion chamber provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and i

What is claimed is: 1. An energy converter, comprising: a free piston engine having a piston unit that comprises a) a piston or b) pistons that are connected together so as to reciprocate with each other; at least one combustion chamber provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and inlet and outlet valves, of which inlet and outlet valves at least one is controllable; and means for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen into the combustion chamber or chambers; an electric motor/generator arranged to interact with the piston unit through electromagnetic coupling between the motor/generator and the piston unit so as to produce electrical energy from movements of the piston unit and to use electrical energy to affect the movements of the piston unit; and a control unit that controls the free piston engine and the electric motor/generator; wherein the energy converter is arranged to supply the control unit with information regarding required load, said energy converter also being arranged to adapt power output from said electric motor/generator depending on the required load of the energy converter. 2. The energy converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit is arranged for controlling the electric motor/generator and at least one of the valves within a time period that is significantly shorter than a combustion cycle of said combustion chamber. 3. The energy converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber is provided with at least one fuel injector. 4. The energy converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the free piston engine is arranged for a compression ignition combustion principle. 5. The energy converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the combustion chamber is provided with at least one spark plug. 6. The energy converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the energy converter is configured to be used for propulsion of a vehicle or in a power plant application. 7. The energy converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted for controlling at least one operating parameter selected from the group of operating parameters consisting of the amount of fuel per stroke, the amount of air per stroke, the compression, and the number of strokes per time unit. 8. The energy converter as recited in claim 7, wherein the operating frequency adapts the power output depending on the required load. 9. The energy converter as recited in claim 8, wherein the control unit is adapted for controlling said operating frequency by controlling charging pressure. 10. A method for operating an energy converter, comprising: providing an energy converter having 1) a free piston engine including a piston unit that comprises a) a piston or b) pistons that are connected together so as to reciprocate with each other; at least one combustion chamber provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and inlet and outlet valves, of which inlet and outlet valves at least one is controllable; and supply means for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen into the combustion chamber or chambers; 2) an electric motor/generator arranged to interact with the piston unit through electromagnetic coupling between the motor/generator and the piston unit so as to produce electrical energy from movements of the piston unit as well as to use electrical energy to affect the movements of the piston unit; and 3) a control unit that controls the free piston engine and the electric motor/generator; supplying the control unit with information regarding the energy converter's required load; and adapting power output from said electric motor/generator depending on the required load of the energy converter. 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the power output is controlled by varying the amount of fuel per stroke and/or the amount of the oxygen-containing medium per stroke. 12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the free piston engine further comprises a charging compressor and the power output is controlled by varying the charging pressure. 13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the power output is controlled by selecting from among at least two different combustion modes. 14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least two different combustion modes are selected from the group consisting of intermittent mode, one-cycle operation, 2-stroke mode, 4-stroke mode, and 6-stroke mode. 15. A method of starting an energy converter comprising: providing an energy converter having 1) a free piston engine including a piston unit that comprises a) a piston or b) pistons that are connected together so as to reciprocate with each other; at least one combustion chamber provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and inlet and outlet valves, of which inlet and outlet valves at least one is controllable; and means for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen into the combustion chamber or chambers; 2) an electric motor/generator arranged to interact with the piston unit through electromagnetic coupling between the motor/generator and the piston unit so as to produce electrical energy from movements of the piston unit as well as to use electrical energy to affect the movements of the piston unit; 3) a control unit that controls the free piston engine and the electric motor/generator; and 4) a capacitor electrically connected to the electric motor/generator; and storing in said capacitor electrical energy allowing said energy converter to provide power sufficient for it to be started within one stroke of said piston unit. 16. An energy converter, comprising: a free piston engine having a piston unit that comprises a) a piston or b) pistons that are connected together so as to reciprocate with each other; at least one combustion chamber provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and inlet and outlet valves, of which inlet and outlet valves at least one is controllable; and means for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen into the combustion chamber or chambers; a linear electric motor/generator arranged to interact with the piston unit through electromagnetic coupling between the motor/generator and the piston unit so as to produce electrical energy from movements of the piston unit and to use electrical energy to affect the movements of the piston unit, wherein the piston unit includes a rod that is attached to the piston or pistons and that interacts with a static part of the linear electric motor/generator through electromagnetic coupling between the rod and the static part of the electric motor/generator; and a control unit that controls the free piston engine and the linear electric motor/generator; the energy converter being arranged to supply the control unit with information regarding required load, said energy converter also being arranged to adapt power output from said electric motor/generator depending on the required load of the energy converter. 17. A method for operating an energy converter, comprising: providing an energy converter having 1) a free piston engine including a piston unit that comprises a) a piston or b) pistons that are connected together so as to reciprocate with each other; at least one combustion chamber provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and inlet and outlet valves, of which inlet and outlet valves at least one is controllable; and supply means for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen into the combustion chamber or chambers; 2) a linear electric motor/generator arranged to interact with the piston unit through electromagnetic coupling between the motor/generator and the piston unit so as to produce electrical energy from movements of the piston unit as well as to use electrical energy to affect the movements of the piston unit; and 3) a control unit that controls the free piston engine and the linear electric motor/generator, wherein the piston unit includes a rod that is attached to the piston or pistons and that interacts with a static part of the linear electric motor/generator through electromagnetic coupling between the rod and the static part of the electric motor/generator; supplying the control unit with information regarding the energy converter's required load; and adapting power output from said linear electric motor/generator depending on the required load of the energy converter. 18. A method of starting an energy converter comprising: providing an energy converter having 1) a free piston engine including a piston unit that comprises a) a piston or b) pistons that are connected together so as to reciprocate with each other; at least one combustion chamber provided with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and inlet and outlet valves, of which inlet and outlet valves at least one is controllable; and means for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen into the combustion chamber or chambers; 2) a linear electric motor/generator arranged to interact with the piston unit through electromagnetic coupling between the motor/generator and the piston unit so as to produce electrical energy from movements of the piston unit as well as to use electrical energy to affect the movements of the piston unit; 3) a control unit that controls the free piston engine and the linear electric motor/generator; and 4) a capacitor electrically connected to the linear electric motor/generator, wherein the piston unit includes a rod that is attached to the piston or pistons and that interacts with a static part of the linear electric motor/generator through electromagnetic coupling between the rod and the static part of the electric motor/generator; and storing in said capacitor electrical energy allowing said energy converter to provide power sufficient for it to be started within one stroke of the piston unit. 19. The energy converter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a capacitor that is electrically connected to the electric motor/generator and a battery that is configured and arranged to charge the capacitor when the free piston engine starts. 20. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein a capacitor is electrically connected to the electric starter/generator and a battery is configured and arranged to charge the capacitor, the method further comprising charging the capacitor by means of the battery when the free piston engine starts. 21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a battery is configured and arranged to charge the capacitor, the method further comprising charging the capacitor by means of the battery when the free piston engine starts. 22. The energy converter as recited in claim 16, further comprising a capacitor that is electrically connected to the electric motor/generator and a battery that is configured and arranged to charge the capacitor when the free piston engine starts. 23. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein a capacitor is electrically connected to the electric starter/generator and a battery is configured and arranged to charge the capacitor, the method further comprising charging the capacitor by means of the battery when the free piston engine starts. 24. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein a battery is configured and arranged to charge the capacitor, the method further comprising charging the capacitor by means of the battery when the free piston engine starts.