Recent Progress in the Implementation of Active Combustion Control

The suppression of pressure oscillations and the extension of flammability limits in dump combustors and premixed combustors with flame-holders through the use of active feedback control is a relatively new technology with tremendous potential. To accelerate progress in this emerging area, a research program was initiated at the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The ONR program aims to explore new control strategies, develop new actuators, and explore the combustion dynamics of combustion systems with an eye towards improving their controllability. This paper summarizes progress made in the program. Through physical and numerical experiments the role of shear-flow dynamics in combustion control has been clarified. New, more effective, actuators that manipulate the shear layer by a periodic chemical energy release have been demonstrated. New control strategies based on neural networks, adaptive filters, and modern control synthesis procedures have been implemented.