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.