Adaptive linear linked piston electric power generator
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJay B. Ross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load adaptive linear electrical generator system is provided for generating DC electrical power. The electrical generation system includes one or more power generation modules which will be selectively turned on or off and additively contribute power depending on the DC power demand. Each power generating module includes a pair of linear electrical generators connected to respective ones of a pair of internal combustion piston based power assemblies. The piston in the internal combustion assembly is connected to a magnet in the linear electrical generator. The piston/magnet assembly oscillates in a simple harmonic motion at a frequency dependent on a power load of the electrical generator. A stroke limiter constrains the piston/magnet assembly motion to preset limits.
Claims19
Apparatus comprising:
- an internal combustion assembly;
- a motor/generator coupled to the internal combustion assembly;
- an energy storage device coupled to the motor/generator;
- and
- a controller configured to operate the motor/generator as an active flywheel by:
- controlling the motor/generator to operate as a motor to supply energy to the internal combustion assembly from the energy storage device during a first mode of operation of the internal combustion assembly;
- controlling the motor/generator to operate as a generator to supply energy to the energy storage device from the internal combustion assembly during a second mode of operation of the internal combustion assembly;
- wherein:
- the internal combustion assembly comprises a piston within a cylinder head;
- the piston is coupled to a shaft of the motor/generator;
- during the first mode of operation, energy is supplied from the energy storage device to rotate the shaft of the motor/generator to move the piston in the cylinder head;
- and
- during the second mode of operation, the piston is moved in the cylinder head by the operation of internal combustion assembly to rotate the shaft of the motor/generator to supply energy to the energy storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.