Characterization of Combustion Dynamics, Detection, and Prevention of an Unstable Combustion State Based on a Complex-Network Theory

Thermoacoustic instability is of interest to applied physicists and engineers as a significant, widely observed phenomenon in various types of engines. This study shows how to use a pragmatic, online detection methodology, based on the theory of complex networks, to control unstable combustion in a turbulent thermoacoustic system. This combination of network physics, nonlinear dynamics, and engineering helps to avoid blowout conditions and engine shutdown.