Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly, each piston assembly including a spring rod and a piston comprising a solid front section adjacent the combustion section and a gas section; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly, each piston assembly including a spring rod and a piston comprising a solid front section adjacent the combustion section and a gas section; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke.

In vibratory plates (vibratory plate compactor machine), the reciprocating movement of an engine piston is converted into rotation of the crankshaft, and the latter is converted into rotation of an eccentric rotary shaft of vibrator unit, which create a periodic force that leads to reciprocating movement of the plate. Such a vibratory plate is complicated.

It is proposed to use a free-piston engine with one piston as the engine for a vibratory plate. In this free piston engine, the piston moves reciprocally, and the cylinder performs reciprocating movements opposite to the movements of the piston. The cylinder is mounted vertically and fixed to the plate. In each engine cycle the gas pressure acts on the piston and cylinder. After combustion, the piston moves up and the cylinder moves down. Since the cylinder is fixed to the plate, it also moves downward and compacts soil, gravel, etc.

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.

Various examples are provided related to opposing piston synchronized linear machines. In one example, among others, an opposed piston synchronized linear machine includes a linear engine having opposed piston assemblies including two pistons that move linearly in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis of a central cylinder; first and second linear electromagnetic machines coupled at a proximal end to the piston assemblies; and a resonant driver assembly that provides compression during a compression stroke of the linear engine. The first and second linear electromagnetic machines can convert linear motion provided by the two pistons to electrical energy in a generating mode. The opposed piston assemblies can be synchronously controlled to generate a compression ratio sufficient to combust fuel in a combustion chamber of the central cylinder.

Disclosed is a thermodynamic cycle process, performing transfer between mechanical and heat energies, by changing a state of a fluid, including: an expansion of the fluid, an energy retrieval from the fluid expansion, a step of powering a liquid pump or a gas compressor with the retrieved energy, using a cyclic free piston expander which alternatively changes direction of the free piston sliding: by alternatively: closing the fluidic communication between the both opposite sides of the free piston, to make different from each other the pressures applied respectively thereon, so the free piston slides in a first direction, opening a fluidic communication between both opposite sides of the free piston, to make equal to each other the pressures applied respectively thereon, so the free piston slides in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the free piston sliding, directly and mechanically, opening and closing, the fluidic communication.

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.

Various examples are provided related to opposing piston synchronized linear machines. In one example, among others, an opposed piston synchronized linear machine includes a linear engine having opposed piston assemblies including two pistons that move linearly in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis of a central cylinder; first and second linear electromagnetic machines coupled at a proximal end to the piston assemblies; and a resonant driver assembly that provides compression during a compression stroke of the linear engine. The first and second linear electromagnetic machines can convert linear motion provided by the two pistons to electrical energy in a generating mode. The opposed piston assemblies can be synchronously controlled to generate a compression ratio sufficient to combust fuel in a combustion chamber of the central cylinder.

In one embodiment, a power generation system includes a pulse detonation engine including a combustion chamber, a linear power generator including a working chamber, and a nozzle positioned between the combustion chamber and the working chamber that expands exhaust gas expelled from the combustion chamber, wherein the nozzle increases thermodynamic efficiency of the system.

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly, each piston assembly including a spring rod and a piston comprising a solid front section adjacent the combustion section and a gas section; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke.