Systems and methods for using a combustion dynamics tuning algorithm with a multi-can combustor

A model-based control system for controlling a gas turbine engine with multiple cans, the system comprising:

• a plurality of sensors adapted to obtain operating frequency information associated with a respective can;
• a model adapted to receive information from the plurality of sensors, wherein the model is adapted to:
• during startup operation of the engine:
• determine whether the operating frequency information for each particular can exceeds at least one startup operating threshold for a predefined time;
• and
• determine an output adapted to modify operation of the respective cans of the engine when the at least one startup operating threshold is exceeded for the predefined time;
• and
• during steady state operation of the engine:
• determine the variation between operating frequency information of at least two cans based at least in part on the operating frequency information;
• determine a median value based at least in part on the variation;
• and
• determine whether the median value or the operating frequency information for a particular can exceeds at least one steady state operating threshold for another predefined time;
• determine an output adapted to modify the respective cans of the engine when the at least one steady state operating threshold is exceeded for the another predefined time;
• and
• a controller adapted to determine an engine control action based at least in part on either output from the engine model, and further adapted to output a control command to implement the engine control action.