Stability of State Feedback Transformations for Nonlinear Systems - Some Practical Considerations

A number of methods have been recently proposed for the feedback transformation of nonlinear systems. This paper describes some practical considerations in their application to process systems and, in particular, the signifance of local controllability. The example considered is the van de Vusse reaction carried out in an isothermal stirred tank reactor. It is shown that exact linearization is not appropriate because the controllability condition breaks down in the neighborhood of a steady operating point.