A multi-channel feedback algorithm for the development of active liners to reduce noise in flow duct applications

The present paper deals with the design and development of the active part of a hybrid acoustic treatment combining porous material properties and active control techniques. Such an acoustic system was developed to reduce evolutionary tones in flow duct applications. Attention was particularly focused on the optimization process of the controller part of the hybrid cell. A piezo-electric transducer combining efficiency and compactness was selected as a secondary source. A digital adaptive feedback control algorithm was specially developed in order to operate independently cell by cell, and to facilitate a subsequent increase in the liner surface. An adaptive bandpass filter was used to prevent the development of instabilities due to the coupling occurring between cells. Special care was taken in the development of such systems for time-varying primary signals. An automatic frequency detection loop was therefore introduced in the control algorithm, enabling the continuous adaptation of the bandpass filtering. The multi-cell structure was experimentally validated for a four-cell system located on a duct wall in the presence of flow. Substantial noise reduction was obtained throughout the 0.7–2.5 kHz frequency range, with flow velocities up to 50 m/s.