Vibration Suppression of Two Counter Moving Pistons

Description

In this talk, a control-based strategy for reducing mechanical vibrations in a two-piston free reciprocating air compressor system will be presented. Vibrations in this type of compressor pose a constant challenge, as they cause higher noise levels, as well as increased mechanical wear and structural fatigue. All these effects decrease the compressor performance, as well as shorten the lifetime of the product. Conventional vibration reduction methods, such as mechanical balancing or passive damping, are likely to increase the overall complexity of the system and add cost.
The presentation begins with a detailed dynamic analysis of the two-piston onfiguration,
highlighting the main causes of imbalance and identifying critical conditions across the entire operating speed range. Based on these results, a real-time control approach is proposed that involves active force compensation through feedback control. The system uses sensor inputs to continuously monitor piston movement and dynamically adjust control inputs to counteract unbalanced inertial forces.
Simulation and experimental validations are performed to evaluate the quality of the model, as well as the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show significant reduction of the vibration amplitude over the whole pressure range, without having an influence on the efficiency or other control structures. The control system also proves its robustness under changing load conditions and operating conditions.
The proposed approach is modular, scalable, and compatible with existing compressor architectures, making it suitable for industrial implementation. This work contributes to the growing field of active vibration control in reciprocating machines and demonstrates ways to improve the reliability, efficiency, and service life of air compressor systems.

Period	14 Oct 2025
Event title	Smart Actuators Day 2025
Event type	Conference
Location	Linz, AustriaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International