Development of a linear alternator-engine for hybrid electric vehicle applications

TLDR

The study investigates a generation system that couples a linear crankless internal combustion engine with a linear alternator for hybrid electric vehicle use. The system drives the alternator directly from the piston’s linear motion, and the authors model and simulate the integrated engine–alternator architecture to predict output performance. The prototype proved compact, reliable, and efficient, with experimental data confirming the single‑moving‑part design’s suitability for series hybrid electric vehicles.

Abstract

This paper examines the design and operation of a generation system that utilizes a linear crankless internal combustion engine in conjunction with a linear alternator. This system directly utilizes the linear motion of the piston to drive the alternator rather than first converting to rotary motion. The result is a more compact, reliable, and efficient unit as the system has only one moving part, making the system ideal for use in series hybrid electric vehicles. This paper describes the overall system design as well as the subsystems including the engine and alternator. A dynamic simulation is then presented which utilizes the model developed to determine the output characteristics of the system. The prototype system was successfully tested, and experimental results are also included.