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The free-piston engine generator (FPEG) is a novel type of energy conversion device; it integrates a two stroke combustion engine and a linear electric machine into a single unit. As an alternative to conventional engines, the FPEG is a promising power generation system due to its simplicity and high thermal efficiency and has attracted considerable research interests recently. This paper presents the development for a spark-ignited free-piston engine generator prototype, and the design of major sub-systems is introduced. The electrical linear machine is operated as a motor to start the engine and switched to a generator after successful ignition. Ignition is one of the most crucial problems for the generating process, thus a unique control sub-system to generate ignition signals at the correct ignition timing based on the piston position was completed. Then experiments of the starting process were carried out with the prototype.

This paper provides an investigation to improve vehicle powertrain NVH performance via modification of excitation and radiation system of powertrain. First of all, considering different excitation mechanisms of the powertrain, the excitation forces are analyzed. The FEM/BEM coupled analysis and the acoustic transfer vector (ATV) calculation as well as panel contribution analysis are applied to investigating the acoustic characteristics of the powertrain. Then a hybrid approach which couples the transmission gear profile modification for attenuating gear system excitation and the transmission housing modification for reducing transmission housing noise radiation is proposed to improve powertrain NVH performance. Experiment validation is conducted in order to assess the modified results. The assessment shows that this hybrid approach can effectively predict and reduce powertrain noise and vibration.