Free piston engine power plant
A free-piston engine power plant incorporating a first combustion cylinder, having a first combustion piston, a fluid expander having an expansion cylinder with an expander piston therein, the expander piston reciprocating in unison with the first combustion piston, a bottoming cycle having a working fluid and a heat exchanger.
1. A free-piston gas generator power plant comprising:
a free-piston engine;
an exhaust channel;
a power turbine having an exhaust line;
a heat exchanger;
a water supply; and
an injector;
wherein the free-piston engine is configured to supply an exhaust gas to the power turbine via the exhaust channel;
wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to the exhaust line;
wherein the exhaust line is arranged to heat the water supply to create steam; and
wherein the injector is arranged to inject at least a portion of the steam into the exhaust channel.
2. The free-piston gas generator power plant according to claim 1 further comprising an injection valve configured to control the rate of steam injection into the exhaust channel.
3. The free-piston gas generator power plant according to claim 1 further comprising an injection valve configured to inject water into the exhaust channel at a predetermined water injection frequency.
4. The free-piston gas generator power plant according to claim 1 further comprising a water pump configured to increase pressure in the injector.
5. The free-piston gas generator power plant according to claim 1 , wherein the injector comprises a nozzle to atomize water being injected into the exhaust channel.
6. The free-piston gas generator power plant according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the steam is diverted to form a second steam path.
7. The free-piston gas generator power plant according to claim 6 further comprising:
a second steam path injector; and
a second steam path valve;
wherein the second steam path injector and valve are provided on the second steam path to control the amount of steam supplied to the second path.