Title: Active control of combustion oscillations in a lean premixed gas-turbine combustor

Authors: Shigeru Tachibana, Laurent Zimmer, Yoji Kurosawa, Kazuo Suzuki, Hiroyuki Sato, A. Koichi Hayashi, Chiaki Nishidome, Itsuro Kajiwara

Addresses: Aeroengine Technology Centre, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 7-44-1 Jindaiji-Higashi, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8522, Japan. ' Aeroengine Technology Centre, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 7-44-1 Jindaiji-Higashi, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8522, Japan. ' Aeroengine Technology Centre, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 7-44-1 Jindaiji-Higashi, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8522, Japan. ' Program Management and Integration Department, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 7-44-1 Jindaiji-Higashi, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8522, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8558, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8558, Japan. ' CATEC Inc., 5-16-3 Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0053, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan

Abstract: Active control of combustion oscillations occurring in a methane-air lean premixed model combustor is accomplished by the method of secondary fuel injection. The main flame is sustained by an axial vane swirler. The central part of the swirler is endowed a function as the secondary fuel injector. The fuel jets from the injector enhance the flame stability by producing rich stable flames in the region of the flame base. Open-loop controls by secondary fuel injection with constant flow rates have been conducted on a naturally unstable condition. The results show sensitivity to the injection amount. It indicates that the flame base is very sensitive to the additional fuel distribution. A similar discussion is made on NO_x emission also. Finally, a closed-loop control has been performed by implementing the mixed H²/H^∞ controller. An obvious effect of the closed-loop control on the suppression of pressure oscillations is found without loosing an advantage for low NO_x emissions.

Keywords: active control; combustion control; combustion instability; secondary fuel injection; mixed H²/H^∞ control; combustion oscillations; lean premixed combustors; gas turbines; nitrogen oxides; gas emissions; closed-loop control; pollution emission.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2007.012309

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2007 Vol.43 No.1/2/3/4, pp.306 - 321

Published online: 04 Feb 2007 *

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