Civil Disturbance Control System Engineering Development Program

As a final step of the Catalytic Combustor Development Program, a catalytic combustor developed was tested in a 150-kW gas turbine-generator unit. A digital control system was developed to improve its controllability for a transient operation, and a 200-hr continuous operation test was performed to asses the durability of the catalyst. During the test, an excellent performance of the control system was verified, and a very high combustion efficiency of more than 99% and a ultra-low NOx level of less than 5.6 ppm (at 15% O2) were achieved at a 150-kW generator output. In addition, the combustion efficiency has been maintained at over 98% for 200 hours of operation. However, the catalyst exposed to 200 hours of operation showed signs of deactivation.

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Commercialization of Active Isolation for Jet Aircraft

Volume 1A: 16th Biennial Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Noise ◽

10.1115/detc97/vib-4115 ◽

1997 ◽

Author(s):

Steve C. Southward ◽

Douglas E. Ivers ◽

Geoff C. Nicholson

Keyword(s):

Control System ◽

Vibration Control ◽

Acoustic Noise ◽

Development Program ◽

Flight Test ◽

Test Time ◽

Vibration Source ◽

Noise And Vibration ◽

Transmission Path ◽

Active Isolation

Abstract Active Noise and Vibration Control (ANVC) technology is a proven solution for noise and vibration problems in aircraft. The challenges in commercializing this solution range from the development issues of choosing the best actuation, sensor, and control technology to obtaining sufficient flight test time and satisfying FAA requirements. This paper examines significant case histories in the progression of the Lord active vibration control program from conception to market. Throughout the development program, several important discoveries were made regarding the performance, reliability, and economics of Active Isolation Systems (AIS) in jet aircraft. First, practical speaker-based solutions cannot achieve global acoustic noise cancellation for engine tones above about 200 Hz. A comparatively small array of structural actuators placed in the dominant transmission path, such as in or near the engine mounts, are capable of global cancellation in the cabin up to at least 500 Hz. Second, the performance is generally better when cabin microphones are used as error sensor inputs because the AIS control system can compensate for flanking paths better than if accelerometers are used as error sensors. Third, when the actuators are placed in the dominant transmission path and close to the vibration source, the control system will simultaneously achieve global acoustic noise reduction in the cabin and vibration reduction in the aircraft structure without affecting the engine casing vibration levels.

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