Internal Combustion Engine

High fuel efficiency and performance, lower emissions of greenhouse gases, and reasonable maintenance requirements are sought after features for engineers working to develop electric power generation systems for a free-piston internal combustion engine and fuel cell-powered vehicles (DeGaspari, 2000; Heldref, 1999). A free-piston engine incorporates a linear alternator and uses an unconventional combustion approach known as homogeneous charge compression ignition in which fuel and air are premixed and compressed until the heat of compression makes them react. In this type of engine, the piston moves in a two-stroke cycle between combustion chambers in a double-sided cylinder. The free-piston configuration generates electric power and controls the compression ratio by varying the rate of electrical generation. The compression ratio can be varied by how much energy is taken from the alternator.

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ller reformers increase the production of carbon monoxide, which Apoisons@ the platinum and stops it performing its role in the fuel cell. The metals used in the fuel cells and the motors are all high-cost items, which, at present, are not economical for broadscale use. While hydrogen fuel cells are being developed, and efforts made to reduce production costs, BMW is working on a different type of fuel cell which will be able to generate electricity using gasoline (Siuru, 1999). This Solid Oxide Fuel Cell converts hydrogen into electricity at a temperature of about 800oC using a zirconium-oxide ceramic transformer. Gasoline is evaporated and hydrogen is obtained through a splitting process in a reformer at the same temperature. The hydrogen then reacts with oxygen in the air fed in during the process to generate electricity, with water as the waste product. By using conventional gasoline, this system can be marketed much sooner, as it does not have to wait for the widespread availability of hydrogen. Compared to proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, these cells are less sensitive to impurities created during the reforming process and do not require expensive precious metal electrodes. They could eventually be used to replace
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Electric Vehicles, Fuel Cell, NASA Apollo, , Science Technology, Technology Fuel, Pop Electr, fuel cells, fuel cell, Eng Pp, Automot Ind, Prof Eng, internal combustion engine, electric motor, internal combustion, combustion engine, hybrid electric, siuru 1998, siuru 1999, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, electric power, electric motor drives, motor drives wheels, hev internal combustion,
Approximate Word count = 1430
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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