Model Order Reduction: A Comparison between Integer and Non-Integer Order Systems Approaches

In this paper, classical and non-integer model order reduction methodologies are compared. Non integer order calculus has been used to generalize many classical control strategies. The property of compressing information in modelling systems, distributed in time and space, and the capability of describing long-term memory effects in dynamical systems are two features suggesting also the application of fractional calculus in model order reduction. In the paper, an open loop balanced realization is compared with three approaches based on a non-integer representation of the reduced system. Several case studies are considered and compared. The results confirm the capability of fractional order systems to capture and compress the dynamics of high order systems.