Aerodyne Research, Inc.

Roger Putnam

David B Stickler

Kurt D Annen

Jaime A Woodroffe

Jamie Woodroffe

Jaime Woodroffe

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a power generating system particularly suitable for field use in remote locations, which is fuel-efficient, relatively quiet, tolerant of dust, capable of operating on low-grade logistics and diesel-like fuels and capable of generating between 500 W and 2 KW of continuous electrical power. This generating system employs a two-cycle MICE generator having a piston that operates within a cylinder, and an interconnected, axially moving piston shaft that oscillates an alternator coil within a magnetic core. The piston shaft is attached to, and resisted by, the free end of a strong spring with a second, opposing end fixed to the MICE casing. To control operation of the MICE generator a clipper circuit is employed with a set threshold to resolve peaks and an adjustable harshness for applying load to the coil based upon an amps/volt harshness setting. The engine can also be controlled dynamically throughout the cycle using the added feedback from the proportional and integral elements of a PID controller in conjunction with an energy dissipating and/or storing circuit to load the coil. The dynamic control can be based on a switching power supply implementation. Various engine operating parameters can be derived from coil voltage, current and resistance, and used to control and/or monitor the engine's performance.

System and method for controlling a power generating system

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a power generating system particularly suitable for field use in remote locations, which is fuel-efficient, relatively quiet, tolerant of dust, capable of operating on low grade logistics and diesel-like fuels and capable of generating between 500 W and 2 KW of continuous electrical power. This generating system employs a two-cycle MICE generator having a piston that operates within a cylinder, and an interconnected, axially moving piston shaft that oscillates an alternator coil within a magnetic core. The piston shaft is attached to, and resisted by, the free end of a strong spring with a second, opposing end fixed to the MICE casing. To control operation of the MICE generator a dual clipper circuit is operatively connected with the alternator coil. The clipper circuit senses the current and at least two voltage levels and applies at least two respective loads in response to the sensed voltage levels and current so as to (a) prevent overstroke of the piston and (b) control power output of the alternator coil. The MICE generator also includes a fuel intake preheater that selectively heats fuel/air mixture entering the casing and a controller that senses load on the alternator coil varies a level of preheating to thereby control a level of power output.

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Newton Highlands, MA, United States of America

Roger Putnam