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We experimentally study thermoacoustic transitions in an annular combustor consisting of sixteen premixed, swirl-stabilized turbulent flames. We show the changes in the characteristics of bifurcations leading to the state of longitudinal thermoacoustic instability (TAI) when equivalence ratio and bulk velocity are systematically varied. Depending upon the bulk velocity, we observe different states of combustor operation when the equivalence ratio is varied. These states include combustion noise, intermittency, low-amplitude TAI, mixed-mode oscillations (MMO), and high-amplitude TAI. We closely examine the special case of MMO that is encountered during the transition from low-amplitude TAI to high-amplitude TAI. We also discuss the global and local flame dynamics observed during the state of MMO. We find that during epochs of low-amplitude oscillations of MMO, all the flames are partially synchronized, while during epochs of high-amplitude oscillations, all the flames are perfectly synchronized. Finally, we replicate the criticalities of bifurcation of the annular combustor in a phenomenological model containing sixth-order nonlinearities.

We experimentally study thermoacoustic transitions in an annular combustor consisting of sixteen premixed, swirl-stabilized turbulent flames. We show the changes in the characteristics of bifurcations leading to the state of longitudinal thermoacoustic instability (TAI) when equivalence ratio and bulk velocity are systematically varied. Depending upon the bulk velocity, we observe different states of combustor operation when the equivalence ratio is varied. These states include combustion noise, intermittency, low-amplitude TAI, mixed-mode oscillations (MMO), and high-amplitude TAI. We closely examine the special case of MMO that is encountered during the transition from low-amplitude TAI to high-amplitude TAI. We also discuss the global and local flame dynamics observed during the state of MMO. We find that during epochs of low-amplitude oscillations of MMO, all the flames are partially synchronized, while during epochs of high-amplitude oscillations, all the flames are perfectly synchronized. Finally, we replicate the criticalities of bifurcation of the annular combustor in a phenomenological model containing sixth-order nonlinearities.

Open-loop control is known to be an effective strategy for controlling self-excited periodic oscillations, known as thermoacoustic instability, in turbulent combustors. Here, we present experimental observations and a synchronization model for the suppression of thermoacoustic instability achieved by rotating the otherwise static swirler in a lab-scale turbulent combustor. Starting with the state of thermoacoustic instability in the combustor, we find that a progressive increase in the swirler rotation rate leads to a transition from the state of limit cycle oscillations to the low-amplitude aperiodic oscillations through a state of intermittency. To model such a transition while also quantifying the underlying synchronization characteristics, we extend the model of Dutta et al. [Phys. Rev. E 99, 032215 (2019)] by introducing a feedback between the ensemble of phase oscillators and the acoustic. The coupling strength in the model is determined by considering the effect of the acoustic and swirl frequencies. The link between the model and experimental results is quantitatively established by implementing an optimization algorithm for model parameter estimation. We show that the model is capable of replicating the bifurcation characteristics, nonlinear features of time series, probability density function, and amplitude spectrum of acoustic pressure and heat release rate fluctuations at various dynamical states observed during the transition to the state of suppression. Most importantly, we discuss the flame dynamics and demonstrate that the model without any spatial inputs qualitatively captures the characteristics of the spatiotemporal synchronization between the local heat release rate fluctuations and the acoustic pressure that underpins a transition to the state of suppression. As a result, the model emerges as a powerful tool for explaining and controlling instabilities in thermoacoustic and other extended fluid dynamical systems, where spatiotemporal interactions lead to rich dynamical phenomena.