DEI Free Piston Combined Heat and Power Technology

A video demonstration of the Free Piston Engine developed at Durham Energy Institute by Professor Tony Roskilly (Principal Investigator) and Dr Sumit Roy (Early Career Researcher) as a part of their Innovate UK project. This technology has many applications including Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems.

Decarbonising heating and power generation through reduced emission and highly efficient technology at low-cost is key to delivering net-zero greenhouse gas targets. Durham Energy Institute’s ‘Free Piston Combined Heat and Power Technology’ focuses on the development of a novel, highly-efficient, fuel-flexible, and low-cost generator technology to provide electricity, heating, and cooling.

Durham University’s FPE Prototype, is the result of over 10 years of R&D; the technology is based around two engine cylinders, which fire alternately and are coupled mechanically via a linear shaft/stator.

The technology is 60% smaller and 25% lighter than a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) generator. It has proven thermal efficiencies of between 40 and 50%. It has 30% higher electrical efficiency than existing reciprocating IC engine generators and similar electrical efficiency as existing PEM fuel cells. The system can operate either in 2 or 4 stroke mode, switch between liquid and gaseous fuels – even during operation. It has the potential of transition from low-carbon to zero-carbon fuels (i.e. bioethanol and hydrogen).

Find out more at https://www.flexibleheatandpower.com/