A general design approach is presented for model-based control of piston position in a free-piston engine (FPE). The proposed approach controls either “bottom-dead-center” (BDC) or “top-dead-center” (TDC) position. The key advantage of the approach is that it facilitates controller parameter selection, by the way of deriving parameter combinations that yield both stable BDC and stable TDC. Driving the piston motion toward a target compression ratio is, therefore, achieved with sound engineering insight, consequently allowing repeatable engine cycles for steady power output. The adopted control design approach is based on linear control-oriented models derived from exploitation of energy conservation principles in a two-stroke engine cycle. Two controllers are developed: A proportional integral (PI) controller with an associated stability condition expressed in terms of controller parameters, and a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) to demonstrate a framework for advanced control design where needed. A detailed analysis is undertaken on two FPE case studies differing only by rebound device type, reporting simulation results for both PI and LQR control. The applicability of the proposed methodology to other common FPE configurations is examined to demonstrate its generality.
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November 2017
Research-Article
A Model-Based Control Design Approach for Linear Free-Piston Engines
T. N. Kigezi,
T. N. Kigezi
Department of Engineering and Design,
The School of Engineering and Informatics,
The University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
e-mail: T.Nsabwa-Kigezi@sussex.ac.uk
The School of Engineering and Informatics,
The University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
e-mail: T.Nsabwa-Kigezi@sussex.ac.uk
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J. F. Dunne
J. F. Dunne
Department of Engineering and Design,
The School of Engineering and Informatics,
The University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
e-mail: j.f.dunne@sussex.ac.uk
The School of Engineering and Informatics,
The University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
e-mail: j.f.dunne@sussex.ac.uk
Search for other works by this author on:
T. N. Kigezi
Department of Engineering and Design,
The School of Engineering and Informatics,
The University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
e-mail: T.Nsabwa-Kigezi@sussex.ac.uk
The School of Engineering and Informatics,
The University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
e-mail: T.Nsabwa-Kigezi@sussex.ac.uk
J. F. Dunne
Department of Engineering and Design,
The School of Engineering and Informatics,
The University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
e-mail: j.f.dunne@sussex.ac.uk
The School of Engineering and Informatics,
The University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QT, UK
e-mail: j.f.dunne@sussex.ac.uk
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Dynamic Systems Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF DYNAMIC SYSTEMS, MEASUREMENT, AND CONTROL. Manuscript received November 11, 2016; final manuscript received May 17, 2017; published online August 8, 2017. Assoc. Editor: Hashem Ashrafiuon.
J. Dyn. Sys., Meas., Control. Nov 2017, 139(11): 111010 (10 pages)
Published Online: August 8, 2017
Article history
Received:
November 11, 2016
Revised:
May 17, 2017
Citation
Kigezi, T. N., and Dunne, J. F. (August 8, 2017). "A Model-Based Control Design Approach for Linear Free-Piston Engines." ASME. J. Dyn. Sys., Meas., Control. November 2017; 139(11): 111010. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4036886
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