On robust synchronization of nonlinear systems with application to grid integration of renewable energy sources

Abstract

Many systems in the natural and physical world often work in unison with similar other systems. This process of simultaneous operation is known as synchronization. In the past few decades, owing to this phenomenon's importance, extensive research efforts have been made. However, many of the existing results consider the systems are identical and/or linear time-invariant, while practical systems are often nonlinear and nonidentical for various reasons. This observation motivated several recent studies on the synchronization of nonidentical (i.e., heterogeneous) nonlinear systems. This paper summarizes some recent results on the synchronization of heterogeneous nonlinear systems, as developed in the thesis [1]. First, the results on the synchronization of a particular class of robustly stable nonlinear systems are presented. Then, these results are applied to an example model known as Brockett oscillator. Finally, using the Brockett oscillator as a common dynamics, output oscillatory synchronization results are given for heterogeneous nonlinear systems of relative degree 2 or higher. An application example of Brockett oscillator for power-grid synchronization is also presented. Some outlooks are provided regarding future research directions.

Collective Dynamical Behaviors of Nonlocally Coupled Brockett Oscillators

“…Later, the nonidentical BO-induced global synchronization was reported [38]. It is further proved that the observed global synchronization has applications in power-grid synchronization and renewable energy sources [39]. Further, the global synchronization was also verifed experimentally in a network of Brockett oscillators using analog circuit realizations [40].…”