The variable gain control method is a new construction technique for the control of nonlinear systems. By properly conducting state transformation that depends on the variable gains, the control design problem of nonlinear systems can be transformed into a gain construction problem, thus effectively avoiding the tedious iterative design procedure. Different from the classical backstepping method and forwarding design method, the structure of variable gain control is simpler in the sense that fewer design parameters are required, facilitating the improvement of system control performance.
To highlight the learning, research, and promotion of variable gain control, Variable Gain Control and Its Applications in Energy Conversion is written based on the research results of peers at home and abroad and combining our latest research. This book presents innovative technologies for designing variable gain controllers for nonlinear systems. It systematically describes the origin and principles of variable gain control for nonlinear systems, focuses on the controller design and stability analysis, and reflects the latest research. In addition, variable gain control methods applied to energy conversion are also included.
Discussion remarks are provided in each chapter highlighting new approaches and contributions to emphasize the novelty of the presented design and analysis methods. In addition, simulation results are given in each chapter to show the effectiveness of these methods.
It can be used as a reference book or a textbook for students with some background in feedback control systems. Researchers, graduate students, and engineers in the fields of control, information, renewable energy generation, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, and others will benefit from this book.
About the Author: Chenghui Zhang received his B.S. and M.S. in automation from Shandong University of Technology, Jinan, China, in 1985 and 1988, respectively. He received Ph.D. in operational research and cybernetics from Shandong University, Jinan, China, in 2001.
In 1988, he joined the Shandong University of Technology, where he became a professor in 1998. From July 2000, he joined the Shandong University as a professor, and he is currently a chair professor and the dean of the School of Control Science and Engineering of Shandong University. He is the founder and director of the National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of "Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Conversion Technology," and the Ministry of Education Engineering Research Center of "Power Electronics, Energy Saving Technology and Equipment." He serves as a member of the Academic Committee and the deputy director of Faculty of Information Science of Shandong University.
Professor Zhang is a fellow of Chinese Association of Automation (CAA), which is the toppest membership in the national academic society in China. He is a Changjiang Scholar distinguished professor awarded by Ministry of Education. Chang Jiang Scholars Program is jointly launched and implemented by the Ministry of Education of China and Li Ka Shing Foundation in 1998, which is awarded to the leading talents of disciplines with international influence.
Prof. Zhang is a leading researcher in the areas of control engineering, advanced power control of renewable energy, power electronics, and intelligent management of energy storage batteries. Prof. Zhang has co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and has a Google Scholar h-index of 56 and i10-index of 269. He was also ranked in the Top 2% career-long and single-year impact scientists worldwide in the Stanford University's Most-Cited Scientists in 2020 and 2021.
He was awarded the Second Prize of National Science & Technology Progress Award of PRC in 2016 and 2020, respectively, for his significant contributions in advanced control technology of high-performance photovoltaic power generation system and electric power purification technology in renewable energy power system. The National Science & Technology Progress Award is one of the highest honors conferred by the State Council of PRC to recognize citizens and organizations who have made remarkable contributions to scientific and technological progress.
Prof. Zhang was appointed as the leader of Innovation Research Group of Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in 2018, which is currently the most academically influential and competitive talent team programmer in China and positioned to the top leading innovative research team in a specific frontier areas. He also won the Ho Leung Ho Lee Science and Technology Progress Award in 2021, which is the highest social reward and awarded by Ho Leung Ho Lee Fund Committee for longstanding eminence in science and the practice of engineering.
Prof. Zhang is an executive director of CAA, the deputy chair of Electrical Automation Professional Committee of CAA, the deputy chair of China Power Electronics Society, an executive director of China Electrotechnical Society, and a member of Teaching Committee of Higher Education of Ministry of Education.
Le Chang received the B.S. degree in mathematics, and the Ph.D. degree in control science and engineering from Shandong University in 2012 and 2020, respectively. From 2017 to 2019, he was a visiting Ph.D. student with the Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. His research interests include distributed estimation and control of nonlinear systems.
Cheng Fu received the B.S. degree in automation and M.S. degree in control science and engineering from Qingdao University, Qingdao, China, in 2016 and 2019, respectively. He is currently working toward the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in the School of Control Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China. His research interests include advanced control of power converters, nonlinear control, and intelligent systems.
