Free Piston Linear Motor Compressor (FPLMC)


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Visible on top of the compressor head in the second video is a small rod with red tape on the tip which provides visualization of the piston rod reciprocating between the motor coils.

Photo & video credits: Center for Electromechanics, University of Texas @ Austin

Developed a “home appliance” that compresses natural gas from a home’s gas line (~16 psi) to 3600 psi in a vehicle’s on-board storage tank.  These at-home refueling systems will greatly increase the ability of individuals to utilize natural gas as a vehicular fuel due to the lack of commercial natural gas refueling stations.  CEM was responsible for the design and control of the 1.5 kW reluctance linear motor.

 

Design / Solid Modeling:

Assembled FPLMC ready for initial testing at GTI (photo credit: GTI)

  1. Key contributor to the development of 3 conceptual designs (inductance, permanent magnet and reluctance motors) and writing of the technical volume for the proposal.
  2. Led the design and fabrication of a proof of concept test rig.
  3. Lead mechanical design engineer for the linear reluctance motor with the “flotor” (linear rotor) as the single moving component to reduce complexity, cost and failure modes.
  4. Managed the main solid model assembly between the 3 teams (CEM, Gas Technology Institute and Argonne National Laboratory).

Analysis:

  1. Performed detail analysis using Solidworks Flow (CFD software) to determine the length of tubing required to cool gas between compression stages.
  2. Completed thermal analyses on the motor coils to guide coil design.
  3. Analyzed stress and deflection for various subassemblies within the compressor.

Patent Award:

J. Stair, A. Lindsay, M. Lewis, R. Zowarka, S. Pratap, C. Hearn, C. Penney, M. Worthington, H.P. Liu, “Free piston linear motor compressor and associated systems of operation”, U.S. Patent Number 10,323,628, June 18, 2019.