ACTIVE GAS TURBINE COMBUSTION CONTROL TO MINIMIZE NITROUS OXIDE EMISSIONS

A method of minimizing nitrous oxide emissions in a gas turbine engine includes a step of monitoring pressure fluctuations within a gas turbine engine combustor and a step of adjusting fuel flow to the combustor if the pressure fluctuations therein exceed a preestablished threshold. The combustor can be operated at the lowest levels of nitrous oxide emissions since the onset of a combustor instability and/or blowout is identified early to allow for corrective action so that such undesirable events are prevented.