Nonlinear Backstepping Controller Design for a Gas Turbine Engine

Abstract

The development of a nonlinear backstepping controller for a gas turbine engine is the primary objective of this work. The proposed controller is based on a fuel control unit integrated into a nonlinear dynamical gas turbine engine model. The fuel control unit is designed to dynamically adjust the fuel flow rate in response to changes in the engine's operating conditions, thereby ensuring efficient performance. Additionally, the controller incorporates a backstepping control strategy that allows for efficient tracking of the desired engine speed. The design of the control law and its corresponding Lyapunov functions assist in demonstrating the stability of the proposed controller, which is crucial for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the engine. Furthermore, the controller can be implemented in real-time applications due to its simple structure and low computational requirements. The proposed controller demonstrates a promising performance in tracking various command signals. These findings shed light on the proposed controller's effectiveness and applicability in various engine control applications.