Method for Controlling a Combustion Apparatus and Control Device

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The invention relates to a method and control device for stabilizing combustion apparatuses (like gas turbines, boilers, or rocket engines) by actively controlling chaotic or unstable combustion states. It works by monitoring a parameter (such as chamber pressure), analyzing its time-series, and generating control signals based on a combination of feedback and desired frequency targets. These control signals are then sent to actuators to adjust the combustion process (e.g., altering fuel-air ratios or generating acoustic signals), suppressing hazardous instabilities and promoting safe, stable operation.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Active stabilization of gas turbine engines in power plants to avoid dangerous combustion oscillations.
• Suppression of instabilities in rocket engines or afterburners during operation.
• Improving safety and efficiency in industrial furnaces or boilers.
• Adaptive control of jet engines to reduce noise and extend component lifespan.
• Integration into lab reactors for research on unstable chemical or physical systems exhibiting chaotic behavior.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Effectively suppresses dangerous combustion instabilities, including chaotic (non-periodic) oscillations, which prior methods could not handle.
• Enhances safety by preventing large oscillations that can damage machinery or cause failures.
• Improves efficiency by maintaining desired stable combustion regimes, leading to lower emissions and optimal performance.
• Adaptive to changes in combustion apparatus properties or operating conditions (robustness).
• Can integrate with various actuator types (valves, pumps, acoustic drivers) and sensors (pressure, temperature, light).
• Enables tuning to specific frequencies for compatibility with passive damping elements, offering greater flexibility in system design.

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Patent Abstract

A method for controlling a combustion apparatus having a combustion state in which a parameter related to the combustion state reflects a chaotic behavior is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring the parameter and determining a time series of the parameter, shifting the time series by a variable time delay for determining a time-shifted signal, and forming a difference between the time-shifted signal and the time series for determining a time dependent first signal, so that a norm of the difference is lowest. A time dependent second signal is determined, wherein determining the time dependent second signal includes at least one of using a frequency of a desired oscillating combustion state, and shifting the time series by a set time delay. The first signal and the second signal are combined to determine a control signal. The control signal is used to influence the combustion apparatus.