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Combustion Instabilities: Issues in Modeling and Control

Citation

Seywert, Claude (2001) Combustion Instabilities: Issues in Modeling and Control. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/JKFD-7W43. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01252007-135242

Abstract

This study deals with various aspects in the development of active control of combustion instabilities. A low-order model is developed, reconciling along the way two different approaches taken by researchers to attack the description of combustion instabilities. The model is demonstrated with application to a Rijke tube and compared to experiments. The Rijke burner experiments suggest two major discrepancies with the model: the presence of a hysteresis loop is unaccounted for and the model does not describe the seemingly random fluctuations in the amplitude of the pressure oscillations in the 'unstable' regime. So far no explanation for the hysteresis can be given; however, this phenomenon is successfully exploited by using a novel nonlinear control technique to expand the stable operating range of the burner. The origin of the 'noise' in the pressure trace is explained by considering entropy and vorticity waves in the combustor. Their presence leads to a slight modification of the original model, introducing stochastic source terms into the oscillator equations. The consequences of the presence of these terms is analyzed by means of simulations. One interesting result is that they allow for the identification of model parameters from a single experimental run of a stable combustion system. Finally, a unified approach to controlling combustion instabilities is presented. The formulation and analysis account for truncation to a few modes; uncertainties in the description of the system (including uncertain sensing and actuating); external disturbances; and intrinsic noise sources. An explicit expression is derived against which any controller can be checked for stability.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Aeronautics and Control and Dynamical Systems)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Aeronautics
Minor Option:Control and Dynamical Systems
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Culick, Fred E. C.
Group:GALCIT
Thesis Committee:
  • Culick, Fred E. C. (chair)
  • Hornung, Hans G.
  • Gharib, Morteza
  • Murray, Richard M.
Defense Date:20 February 2001
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-01252007-135242
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01252007-135242
DOI:10.7907/JKFD-7W43
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:338
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:09 Feb 2007
Last Modified:26 Oct 2023 23:19

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