Active Control of Surge in Multi-Stage Axial-Flow Compressors

Abstract

This paper deals with a theoretical study of the active control of purely axial 1D instabilities in multi-stage axial-flow compressors. The paper briefly considers the development of a suitable surge model and continues with the derivation of a controller using linear optimal control theory. The controller is specifically designed to suppress the instabilities predicted by the linearised form of the surge model. The control technique involves a bleed being dynamically varied in response to fluctuations of variables. It is found that a stabilising optimal controller can always be obtained. The second part of the paper presents a non-linear simulation of the surge prediction model with the linear controller, using a 4th order Runge-Kutta scheme. This demonstrates how some non-linearities in the flow model can affect the controller operation. It is also shown that, the amplitudes and the frequency response required of the actuator to retain stability can exceed the practical limitations.