DEI Free Piston Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technology

24 February 2021

A diagram of the patented Free Piston Engine which is 25% lighter

A new video showcasing the innovative technology 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, is now available to view!

Efficient, compact, low cost and fuel flexible!

The DEI Free Piston Combined Heat and Power Technology is based on patented free-piston engine (FPE) design which is efficient, compact, low cost and fuel flexible.

It can therefore be used for a number of applications including Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems. CHP or Co-Generation technology uses energy from fuel in the most efficient and effective way to produce electrical power and useful heat. A CHP system is more efficient than traditional systems for generating and distributing electricity because it captures and harnesses the waste heat from fuel combustion.

The Free Piston Combined Heat and Power Technology:

Is 60% smaller and 25% lighter than a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) generator and similar advantages over fuel cell technology.
Has proven thermal efficiencies of between 40 and 50%
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 about the 'High efficiency fuel flexible free piston engine generator' technology at https://www.flexibleheatandpower.com/