Active Control of a Scramjet Engine

In this effort, Innoveering will integrate and test a closed-loop active control system for scramjet isolator shock system positioning. The approach is to control the fuel flow to the engine to position the shock train leading edge at a specified location in the isolator. The control system includes three basic elements: a shock position sensing system based, a fast response fuel valve that adjusts the fuel flow to the engine, and an adaptive control algorithm that commands the fuel valve to achieve the desired shock position. The Control system was assessed in simulations for a representative engine model and found to offer robust control and fast convergence in disturbance rejection tests and a series of shock train specification tests. The integrated system was shown through simulation to meet the requirement for rejecting both fast 10 ms and slow 1 s disturbances and is capable of convergence to shock position step change commands within 20 ms.