Browsing by Author "Fannin, Christopher A."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Design of an Analog Adaptive Piezoelectric Sensoriactuator
    Fannin, Christopher A. (Virginia Tech, 1997-02-26)
    In order for a piezoelectric transducer to be used as a sensor and actuator simultaneously, a direct charge due to the applied voltage must be removed from the total response in order to allow observation of the mechanical response alone. Earlier researchers proposed electronic compensators to remove this term by creating a reference signal which destructively interferes with the direct piezoelectric charge output, leaving only the charge related to the mechanical response signal. This research presents alternative analog LMS adaptive filtering methods which accomplish the same result. The main advantage of the proposed analog compensation scheme is its ability to more closely match the order of the adaptive filter to the assumed dynamics of the piezostructure using an adaptive first-order high-pass filter. Theoretical and experimental results are provided along with a discussion of the difficulties encountered in trying to achieve perfect compensation of the feedthrough capacitive charge on a piezoelectric wafer.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Linear Modeling and Analysis of Thermoacoustic Instabilities in a Gas Turbine Combustor
    Fannin, Christopher A. (Virginia Tech, 2000-07-25)
    A dynamic model is developed for the purpose of predicting stability characteristics of an industrial-scale, swirl-stabilized premixed combustor located at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, WV. The model consists of modular blocks that assemble into an open-loop transfer function depicting the frequency response of the thermoacoustic system. These blocks include the system acoustic response to unsteady heat release forcing, the air-side coupling of acoustic particle velocity to inlet fuel mass fraction, transport delays present in the mixing nozzle and combustion chamber, and dynamic heat release excitation from unsteady inlet fuel mass fraction. By examing the frequency response with linear stability techniques, the existence of limit cycles due to linear instabilities is predicted. Further, the frequency response analysis is used to predict limit cycle frequencies in the case of predicted instability. The analysis predictions are compared with the results of tests performed at NETL, demonstrating a capability of replicating many of the observed stability characteristics.