MODELING AND ACTIVE CONTROL OF THERMOACOUSTIC INSTABILITIES

Abstract Due to stringent emission regulations, modern gas turbines work in lean premixed mode and thermoacoustic instabilities are often observed. They cause mechanical damage and therefore have to be reduced. This paper describes the development of an acoustic network model for a lab-scale lean premixed methane combustor at ETH Zurich. The model is verified against experimental data and is then used to develop an H ∞ -controller, with special concern given to fundamental limits imposed by the system. The proposed controller is then verified in simulations.