Energy converter

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.