Model Based Control of Combustion
Abstract
This project investigates the use of mathematical modeling to design a closed-loop system for the control of combustion of a methane burner. Regulation of the air-to-fuel ratio for lean or rich combustion, depending on fuel efficiency or power requirements, is pivotal in applications such as internal combustion engines or fossil fuel power plants. Existing model-free approaches use means of limited capacity and require individual tuning through a cumbersome procedure of trial and error. The proposed design avoids the errors inherent in its model-free counterparts and, hence, is more capable of maintaining combustion at the desired air-to-fuel ratio. The model-based System operates by continuously measuring the quantity of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or oxygen present within the exhaust of the combustion process. Using this measurement of the gases produced, a personal computer (PC) regulates the flow of fuel or air to the burner. The PC implements the required control algorithms, derived on the basis of a mathematical model of the combustion process, to control the burner accurately. The mathematical model is the product of system identification based exclusively on input-output measurement. The technology developed within this project will allow industries dependent upon combustion processes to control the progression and efficiency of such reactions more accurately. The final design provides a system capable of limiting the fuel feed or air flow into the combustion chamber to the narrow tolerances required for lean or rich combustion, despite fluctuations in load and varying environmental conditions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA376608
Entities
People
- Nicholas G. Osburn
Organizations
- United States Naval Academy