Method for regulating the operation of a device for generating electric energy by means of a generator driven by a free-piston internal combustion engine
The present invention relates to a method for controlling an electrical generator comprising a two-stroke free piston internal combustion engine having a first cylinder and a second cylinder aligned on a common axis, a first piston pair comprising a first piston and a second piston located in the first cylinder, a second piston pair comprising a first piston located in the second cylinder and connected to the second piston in the first cylinder by a first connecting rod and a second piston located in the second cylinder and connected to the first piston in the first cylinder by a second connecting rod, with the first and second pistons of each piston pair moving in opposite directions to one another, a fuel supply for providing fuel to at least one of the first cylinder or the second cylinder, and a generator comprising at least one rotor connected to at least one of the first connecting rod or the second connecting rod, and at least one stator winding that cooperates with the at least one rotor to generate electricity. The method comprises detecting at least one of piston speed or piston position for at least one of the first piston pair or the second piston pair, and adjusting a compression ratio in at least one of the first cylinder or the second cylinder by at least one of impinging a voltage on the stator winding or altering the fuel supply.
