Thermoacoustic loss-of-chaos in large diesel engines: Case study on long-timescale events

Alice Elizabeth González
Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay
Pablo Gianoli-Kovar
Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay
Héctor Campello-Vicente
Engineering Research Institute of Elche I3E, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain

Article ID: 4463

Keywords: large diesel engines; combustion noise; loss of chaos; active noise control

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the occurrence of anomalous acoustic emissions that appeared after the modification of the combustion chambers of eight reconverted four-stroke diesel engines (10 MW each, urban installation). Large variability of the sound pressure levels emitted by the same engine under nominally identical operating conditions was recorded. The phenomenon was interpreted at first as thermoacoustic instability developing inside the combustion chambers, supported by the simultaneous observation of large fluctuations in the fuel inlet pressure. Four precursor episodes were documented through an operational signature qualitatively consistent with the loss-of-chaos pattern reported in the literature. However, most of these events anticipated a decrease in the sound pressure levels in the considered third-octave band, the opposite of what is expected to happen in thermoacoustic instability events. The 0–1 test for loss-of-chaos was applied, ratifying the occurrence of a long precursor condition that should anticipate the installation of a thermoacoustic instability. The shortest timescale of the precursor states was 500 s, in contrast with the millisecond- to second-range timescales typically reported in laboratory-scale studies. Although the sample is limited, the observations suggest that long precursors may occur in megawatt-scale installations, anticipating different types of sudden changes in the operational conditions (not only thermoacoustic instability). If confirmed, it would open a practical window for feedforward active noise control to avoid abrupt changes in the engine operating conditions. A hybrid silencing strategy is proposed as a design recommendation. Limitations and the current operational status of the installation are also discussed.

Published

2026-07-27

How to Cite

González, A. E., Gianoli-Kovar, P., & Campello-Vicente, H. (2026). Thermoacoustic loss-of-chaos in large diesel engines: Case study on long-timescale events. Sound & Vibration, 60(5). https://doi.org/10.59400/sv4463

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Vol. 60 No. 5 (2026): In Progress

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Article

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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