Predictive control of a direct series resonant converter with active output voltage compensation

Modern high power supplies are based on resonant converters in order to use high frequency reactive elements (for reduced size) without sacrificing converter efficiency. In an effort to achieve compact high power supplies, direct power converter topologies have been considered, since these are mainly characterised by their high power density. A direct resonant converter topology combines matrix converters with conventional resonant converters. This work focused on achieving high quality input/output power and high efficiency. Thus, this thesis presents the research on the control of a direct series resonant converter. Since the resonant converter allows a sinusoidal high frequency output current to be generated, zero current switching (ZCS) was considered to reduce the power losses. Hence, since the converter is switched at every zero crossing of the output current (fixed period), model predictive control was considered. Different predictive approaches for controlling the input and output currents were developed and analysed, however, owing to the characteristics of the topology, these strategies resulted in a suboptimal control. Therefore, in order to improve the input and output qualities (reduce distortion), an output voltage compensation strategy was proposed. This compensation approach is based on adding an H-bridge converter in series between the matrix converter and the resonant tank. This converter improves the voltage applied to the resonant tank, thus, reducing the distortion at the output and, as a consequence, also the distortion at the input. The H-bridge converter utilises only a small capacitor on the dc side in comparison with conventional resonant converters and operates at a low voltage. Simulations were carried out using MATLAB/Simulink and an experimental prototype was built to validate the strategies proposed, achieving a reduction of the input current THD from 4.4% to 2.7%, a reduction of the output current distortion of approximately 40% and an analytically derived efficiency of 89.5%

Optimal PWM switching strategy for single-phase AC-DC converters

The thesis describes an optimal selective harmonic elimination strategy suitable for singlephase AC-DC converter-fed traction drives. The objective is to eliminate low-order supply current harmonics, including those injected into the supply due to load-side current ripple. Other advantages that the switching strategy has to offer over phase-control include improved supply power factor, reduced VA consumption for a given demand speed and load, reduced torque and speed ripple and smaller armature circuit smoothing inductance. The effect of field current boost on the dynamic response of the drive is also described. It is shown that field boost helps to reduce the speed rise-time by increasing the electromagnetic torque available during acceleration periods. Closed-loop control of a 4-quadrant DC drive is described and a comparison made between the performance of PID-control and pseudo-derivative feedback control. It is shown that pseudo-derivative feedback control has several advantages to offer, amongst which are ease of tuning of the controller gains and a superior performance following load torque disturbances. A laboratory size drive system was designed and built, and used to validate simulation predictions for both the switching strategy and pseudo-derivative feedback control. A microcontroller based hardware implementation of both the switching strategy and a digital pseudo-derivative feedback controller was adopted, with the switching strategy being implemented using an off-line approach of precalculating the switching angles and storing these in look-up tables. The armature voltage controller comprises a dual-converter employing IGBTs as switching devices. The use of IGBTs allows higher switching frequencies at significant power levels than would be possible if GTOs were used. It also simplifies the gate drive circuit design and minimises the need to use snubber circuits

Predictive control of a direct series resonant converter with active output voltage compensation

Modern high power supplies are based on resonant converters in order to use high frequency reactive elements (for reduced size) without sacrificing converter efficiency. In an effort to achieve compact high power supplies, direct power converter topologies have been considered, since these are mainly characterised by their high power density. A direct resonant converter topology combines matrix converters with conventional resonant converters. This work focused on achieving high quality input/output power and high efficiency. Thus, this thesis presents the research on the control of a direct series resonant converter. Since the resonant converter allows a sinusoidal high frequency output current to be generated, zero current switching (ZCS) was considered to reduce the power losses. Hence, since the converter is switched at every zero crossing of the output current (fixed period), model predictive control was considered. Different predictive approaches for controlling the input and output currents were developed and analysed, however, owing to the characteristics of the topology, these strategies resulted in a suboptimal control. Therefore, in order to improve the input and output qualities (reduce distortion), an output voltage compensation strategy was proposed. This compensation approach is based on adding an H-bridge converter in series between the matrix converter and the resonant tank. This converter improves the voltage applied to the resonant tank, thus, reducing the distortion at the output and, as a consequence, also the distortion at the input. The H-bridge converter utilises only a small capacitor on the dc side in comparison with conventional resonant converters and operates at a low voltage. Simulations were carried out using MATLAB/Simulink and an experimental prototype was built to validate the strategies proposed, achieving a reduction of the input current THD from 4.4% to 2.7%, a reduction of the output current distortion of approximately 40% and an analytically derived efficiency of 89.5%

Real-time model-based loss minimisation control for electric vehicle drives

PhD ThesisEnvironmental concern and the opportunity for commercial gain are two factors driving the expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) market. Due to the limitations of current battery technology, the efficiency of the traction drive, which includes the electric motor and power electronic converter, is of prime importance. Whilst electric machines utilising permanent magnets (PMs) are popular due to their high energy density, industry concerns about the security of supply have led to interest in magnet-free solutions. Induction machines (IMs) offer such an option. Control of IMs is a mature but complex field. Many techniques for optimising the efficiency of the drive system have been proposed. The vast majority of these methods involve an analytical study of the system to reveal relationships between the controlled variable and efficiency, allowing the latter to be optimised. This inevitably involves simplifications of the problem to arrive at a practically-implementable control scheme. What has not been investigated is real-time calculation of the system losses in order to optimise the efficiency, and the work presented in this thesis attempts to achieve this. The conventional control scheme is examined and a new structure implemented where a model of the system loss is able to directly influence the switching action of the inverter, thus reducing loss. The need to maintain performance alongside loss minimisation is recognised and a cost function-based solution proposed. The validation of this structure is performed both in simulation and on a practical test platform. A model of the principle losses in the drive system is derived, taking into account the processing power typically available for this application, and implemented in the structure outlined. The effect of the new control scheme on efficiency is investigated and results show gains of up to 3%-points are achievable under certain conditions

Wide-bandgap semiconductor based power converters for renewable energy systems

The demand for low carbon economy and limited fossil resources for energy generation drives the research on renewable energy sources and the key technology for utilisation of renewable energy sources: power electronics. Innovative inverter topologies and emerging WBG semiconductor based devices at 600 V blocking class are the enabling technologies for more efficient, reliable and accessible photovoltaic based electricity generation. This thesis is concerned with the impact of WBG semiconductor based power devices on residential scale PV inverter topologies in terms of efficiency, volume reduction and reliability. The static and dynamic characterisation of the Si and WBG based devices are carried out, gate drive requirements are assessed and experimental performance comparison in a single phase inverter is discussed under wide range of operating conditions. The optimisation of GaN HEMT based single phase inverter is conducted in terms of converter efficiency, switching frequency and converter volume. The long term mission-profile based analysis of GaN and Si based devices is conducted and impact of WBG devices under low and high switching frequency conditions in terms of power loss and thermal loading are presented. Finally, a novel five-level hybrid inverter topology based on WBG devices is proposed, simulated and experimentally verified for higher power applications

A PWM Strategy for the Minimisation of Losses in a 3-level T-type Voltage Source Inverter

This paper discusses the approach for the witching loss minimisation in a 3-level inverter. It utilises a model predictive method which is used for evaluation of both the switching loss and voltage unbalance. The method is based on the cost functions implemented to provide simultaneous minimisation of loss and DC link voltage balance control. The simulation results shown that the total loss is reduced in 15% compared to a standard PWM strategy for a 3-level inverter operating at PWM frequency of 16 kHz

Study and analysis of state-of-the-art FCS-MPC strategies for thermal regulation of power converters

La degradación en los convertidores de potencia basados en silicio, enmarcados en sistemas de tracción eléctrica y fuentes de energías renovables, es un tema de estudio de especial interés para aquellas aplicaciones donde los fallos amenazan la seguridad de personas o donde el mantenimiento es particularmente costoso. Motivado por la influencia de los fallos en IGBTs sobre los fallos habituales en los convertidores de potencia comunes, este trabajo utiliza la herramienta software PLECS como marco de trabajo para la simulación de algoritmos de control predictivo basado en modelo con conjunto finito de acciones de control (FCS-MPC) que pretenden -simultáneamente a conseguir el seguimiento eléctrico- extender directa o indirectamente la vida útil de los IGBTs. El trabajo se enfoca principalmente a la simulación en ordenador de los algoritmos controlando un inversor de dos niveles conectado a una carga RL. Además, pretende también introducir la implementación de éstos sobre un microcontrolador para su estudio controlando el inversor simulado en la plataforma PLECS RT Box 1, con el fin último de poder desarrollar validaciones de los controladores basadas en técnicas Hardware-In-the-Loop.Degradation of silicon-based power electronics converters in traction and renewable energy systems is a topic of interest particularly where module failure supposes a safety threat or where maintenance becomes especially expensive. Motivated by the influence of IGBT aging in usual power converters, this work uses the software tool PLECS as framework to simulate Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCSMPC) algorithms that, simultaneously to achieving a certain current tracking, aim to directly or indirectly extend IGBTs’ lifetime. Whilst the work focuses on offline simulation of the algorithms on PLECS, it also targets to pave the way to implement algorithms in a micro-controller and to study how they control a two-level inverter connected to a RL load simulated on a PLECS RT Box 1 platform. The ultimate goal is to develop validations based on Hardware-In-the-Loop techniques of the control algorithms.Universidad de Sevilla. Máster Universitario en Ingeniería Electrónica, Robótica y Automátic