Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards free-piston combustion engines. As described herein, a driver section may be provided in a free-piston combustion engine for storing energy during an expansion stroke. The driver section may be configured to store sufficient energy to perform the subsequent stroke. In some embodiments, the driver section may be configured to store sufficient energy so as to enable the engine to operate continuously across engine cycles without electrical energy input. A linear electromagnetic machine may be provided in a free-piston combustion engine for converting the kinetic energy of a piston assembly into electrical energy.

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.

An internal combustion engine, includes a cylinder; a piston supported in the cylinder for linear displacement, wherein the piston is operatively connected with a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine via a piston rod; a linear motor including a stator and a rotor, wherein the stator has an independently operable stator element assigned to the cylinder and partially surrounding the piston in circumferential direction with respect to a longitudinal center axis of the cylinder, wherein the rotor is assigned to or forms a part of the piston, and wherein the linear motor being operable for exerting on the piston a compensation force directed in radial direction.

An integrated linear parallel hybrid engine is described. Embodiments of the integrated parallel hybrid engine can include, but are not limited to, a linear electric motor integrated into an internal combustion engine. The integrated linear parallel engine can include a plurality of pistons each having magnetic properties, a plurality of electromagnets, a power supply, and an internal combustion engine. The magnetic pistons can be implemented to act as normal pistons in the internal combustion engine and to act as rotors for the linear electric motor.

A electromagnetic motor enhancement system includes an internal combustion engine that has a plurality of pistons, at least one cylinder head and an ignition control module. Each of the pistons is selectively urged in an upstroke and a downstroke. A plurality of magnets is provided and each of the magnets is coupled to an associated one of the pistons. An electromagnetic unit is coupled to the internal combustion engine. The electromagnetic unit is electrically charged in a first polarity when the pistons are urged in the upstroke. Thus, the magnet corresponding to each of the pistons is attracted to the electromagnet unit. The electromagnetic unit is electrically charged in a second polarity when the pistons are urged in the downstroke. Thus, the magnet corresponding to each of the pistons is repelled from the electromagnetic unit.

Systems and methods for converting energy are provided. In one aspect, the system includes a closed cycle engine defining a cold side. The system also includes a bottoming-cycle loop. A pump is operable to move a working fluid along the bottoming-cycle loop. A cold side heat exchanger is positioned along the bottoming-cycle loop in a heat exchange relationship with the cold side of the closed cycle engine. A constant density heat exchanger is positioned along the bottoming-cycle loop downstream of the cold side heat exchanger and upstream of an expansion device. The constant density heat exchanger is operable to hold a volume of the working fluid flowing therethrough at constant density while increasing, via a heat source, the temperature and pressure of the working fluid. The expansion device receives the working fluid at elevated temperature and pressure and extracts thermal energy from the working fluid to produce work.

The present invention provides an internal combustion engine with a split cylinder and free piston. The internal combustion engine (100) comprises a first chamber (200) having pumping means (202) disposed therein, wherein the first chamber (200) is configured to pump air or a charge, a second chamber (400) having second piston (402) disposed therein, the first chamber (200) is connected to and in fluid communication with the second chamber (400) and is configured to receive the air or charge from the first chamber (200) or from a source of compressed air thereof selected from the group consisting of compressors or pre-compressed air, and a third chamber (600) having third piston (602) disposed therein, the third chamber (600) is configured to receive a fluid therein and the third piston (602) is operably coupled to the second piston (402), and a second locking mechanism (1000) and/or a first locking mechanism (800).

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards free-piston combustion engines. As described herein, a driver section may be provided in a free-piston combustion engine for storing energy during an expansion stroke. The driver section may be configured to store sufficient energy to perform the subsequent stroke. In some embodiments, the driver section may be configured to store sufficient energy so as to enable the engine to operate continuously across engine cycles without electrical energy input. A linear electromagnetic machine may be provided in a free-piston combustion engine for converting the kinetic energy of a piston assembly into electrical energy.

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.

The present disclosure provides a six-cylinder opposed free piston internal combustion engine generator. The generator comprises two free piston internal combustion engine sets, one opposed piston internal combustion engine set and two linear generator sets. Air entering cylinders is subjected to first-stage compression in low-pressure cylinder sets in the free piston internal combustion engine sets and the opposed piston internal combustion engine set and then subjected to second-stage compression in high-pressure cylinder sets, and a high pressure gas produced after the combustion is subjected to first-stage expansion in the high-pressure cylinder sets and then subjected to second-stage expansion in the low-pressure cylinder sets. The technical problem about how to improve the power generation efficiency of the opposed free piston generator and improve the reliability of the device is solved, the six-cylinder opposed free piston internal combustion engine generator is provided, a dual piston dual cylinder type free-piston internal combustion engine linear generator is used for replacing a return device in the opposed free piston generator, and the reliability and the power generation efficiency of the device are improved.