Effect of Noise on a Model Thermoacoustic System at its Stability Boundary

In experiments on a
prototypical combustor, Richard Steinert identifies new insights on the impact
of noise on the phenomenon known as thermoacoustic instability. The phenomenon
is a concerning issue which creates a technical limit on the efficiency and
environmental impact of fossil fuels combustion in industrial combustors. It
poses a threat to the structural integrity of practical systems such as gas
turbine combustors and rocket engines. The experiments demonstrate that
thermoacoustic systems feature an interesting noise-induced behaviour known as
coherence resonance – a coherent response of dynamical systems close to their
stability boundary that is induced by stochastic excitation. The work contained
in this publication is an example illustrating the importance of fundamental
considerations in solving perplexing engineering issues.