Feedback control of unstable thermoacoustic modes in an annular Rijke tube

Simulation and experimental results from an annular Rijke tube are presented. This system is a thermoacoustic surrogate system of an annular gas turbine combustor which, despite its simplicity, possesses the basic mechanisms to feature unstable azimuthal modes. A thermoacoustic network model is set up and used to derive low-order models for modal control of the system. The derived controllers are successfully applied in simulation and experiment. With the modal controllers, all unstable acoustic modes can be eliminated individually. A simultaneous use of all controllers results in a complete stabilization of the system.