SAgE Singapore

Scholarships
Free-piston engine powered fin propulsion for ultra-high
efficiency marine applications
Mechanical & Systems Engineering, Swan Centre for Energy
Research
Supervis
ory
Team

Key Words

Dr Andrew Smallbone, Sir Joseph Swan Centre for Energy Research,

Newcastle University
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/energy/people/profile/andrew.smallbone
Prof. Tony Roskilly, Sir Joseph Swan Centre for Energy Research, Newcastle
University http://www.ncl.ac.uk/energy/people/profile/tony.roskilly
Dr Alessandro Romagnoli, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NTU
http://research.ntu.edu.sg/expertise/academicprofile/Pages/StaffProfile.aspx?S
T_EMAILID=A.ROMAGNOLI
The Lead Supervisor is Early Career or newly hired Staff
Fin propulsion, Thermodynamics, Control, Power-electronics,
Power-generation

Overview
Recent decades have seen growing interest in nature
inspired design an interest inspired by millennia of
evolutionary optimisation driven by natural selection.
For example a moving fin (Figure 1) is known to be
better than a propellerpotentially up to 20% more
efficient over a broad range of speeds [Palmisano, et
al.] making it an excellent candidate for the propulsion
technology for ferry and harbour marine applications.

Engineers have generally considered that fins should

be driven by a conventional rotary powertrain system
such as a reciprocating internal combustion engine.
However typically fins oscillate at 0.5-5Hz and
mechanically are designed to convert rotary to linear
motion.
The proposed project aims to design and test a fin
propulsion technology to be powered directly by a
linear free-piston engine (Figure 2, 3D visualisation)
thus combining the advantages of both a free-piston
engine and fin propulsion to achieve a potential 50%
improvement in overall system fuel economy.

Figure 2: 3D visualisation of ultra-high efficiency

linear engine-generator

Figure 1: The Tangorra Fin (Palmisano, et al)

Free-Piston Engines (FPEs), as the heart of the ultrahigh efficiency linear engine-generator, realise a more
fuel-efficient solution (42-55% thermal efficiency in the
spark ignition variant) than conventional state-of-the-

art reciprocating engines (Mikalsen et al.). In addition,

it offers a greater scope of fuel-flexibility, including the
potential of real time switching between the typical
fuels and blends used currently (LPG, diesel, gasoline,
bio-fuels) and in the future (hydrogen, synthetic fuels
etc.) (Wu et al.). A FPE offers the following technical
advantages over a rotary engine: a) a more compact
direct fuel-to-electric power solution (per kW)
without a need for a crankshaft or complex
transmission system, b) a self-contained and compact
unit, c) a solution which is potentially cheaper as its
motion is electrically rather than mechanically
controlled. Combined FPE and linear generator
technologies as the result of fifteen years of R&D at
Newcastle University, a prototype of the ultra-high
efficiency linear engine-generator has been designed
and constructed in the lab environment (Stephenson
Building).
A critical study on understanding the interaction and
working synergy between FPE and fin propulsion
technology is to be conducted by the proposed PhD
student. The research will extensively utilise the
numerical models of FPE technologies developed at
Newcastle as a platform to address the design issues
of the propulsion system and expertise at NTU on fin
design and its efficiency.
This leads to the following objectives:
1. To characterise and analyse the performance of
the proposed fin-FPE integrated solution;
2. To use this understanding to develop a potential
prototype system design;
3. To build and test the most promising prototype
and characterise its performance and system
efficiency.
This process will be supported by establishing a multidisciplinary supervisory team, which combines
Newcastle University expertise in free-piston engines
(Smallbone/Roskilly) and marine and turbo-machinery
propulsion technology (Romagnoli).

Methodology
The studentship will initially undertake a thorough
literature critique. Since the PhD project will combine
the state-of-the-art in terms of experimental
equipment for engine characterisation and numerical
modelling, these results will be simulated by the PhD
using the fast-response and detailed numerical models
developed by MATLAB/Simulink and AMESim, which
has been used by the research team. These models
will be used to optimise the design, benchmark and
rank the performance of different integration
strategies. It would be expected that this would result
in a four-star journal publication. The most promising
solutions will be tested by building a prototype. The
results of the testing would be expected to improve
the system efficiency iteratively and result in at least
two four-star journal publications. The presentations

to Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and

Technology (IMarEST) and the industry (e.g. Wartsila
(engine and propulsion system manufacturer, Meyer
Werft - shipbuilder, SR-Technologies and BNC
Consultants engineering consultancy) will be
delivered to maximise the research impact before the
final thesis viva.

Timeline
Year 1: Literature review, training in using research
engines, preliminary feasibility studies.
Year 2: System characterisation, design and testing
through simulation in MATLAB/ Simulink, AMESim,
first four-star journal paper.
Year 3: Design and build prototype solution and
conduct further optimisation and modelling, second
and third four-star journal papers.
Year 4: Thesis preparation. IMarEST and industry
presentation.

Training & Skills

The student will be primarily based in the Stephenson
Building and will utilise the joint engine lab of the
School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering and the
School of Marine Science and Technology at
Newcastle University. The student will be a member
of a multi-disciplinary team engaged in energy-related
research. The student will be expected to take part in
the Newcastle University Personal Training
Programme which will enable the student to develop
their technical and research skills to support their
development as an independent researcher. Alongside
this, the student will also benefit from three extended
visits to NTU to evaluate the various fin designs.

References & Further Reading

Mikalsen et al. The control of a free-piston engine generator. Part
1: fundamental analyses. Applied Energy, 2010; 87:1273-1280.
Mikalsen et al. The control of a free-piston engine generator. Part
2: engine dynamics and piston motion control. Applied Energy,
2010; 87:1281-1287.
Palmisano, et al. "Power and Thrust Comparison of Bio-mimetic
Pectoral Fins with Traditional Propeller-based Thrusters", 18th
International Symposium on Unmanned Untethered Submersible
Technology, Aug. 11-13, 2013
Wu et al. Design and parametric analysis of Linear Joule-cycle
Engine with out-of-cylinder combustion. Energy Procedia, 2014;
61: 1111-1114.

Further Information
Dr Andrew Smallbone
Sir Joseph Swan Centre for Energy Research
Newcastle University
Email: andrew.smallbone@ncl.ac.uk

Tel: +44(0)191 208 4954