Abstract
To clarify the cause of backfire occurrence and realize a hydrogen fueled engine linear alternator system, dynamic characteristics of a free-piston hydrogen engine were analyzed and compared with those of conventional reciprocating engines. It was found that the mean velocity and acceleration of a free-piston engine were higher than those of reciprocating engines. Piston displacement and compression ratio were varied with the change of the fuel mass flow rate. Therefore, the operational stability and controllability were the most important thinks of the development of a free-piston hydrogen engine.