Model predictive current control with a finite set of novel voltages and modulator in permanent magnet synchronous motor drives

Finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) has been deployed extensively in electric motor drives and power electronics applications. Many advantages, including fast transient response, have been reported. However, the improvement of its steady-state performance, that is, suppression of current ripple, is one of the main problems of a conventional FCS-MPC strategy. This article presents a current control strategy based on FCS-MPC using the concept of variable voltage smoothing. In the proposed method, a finite set of novel voltage vectors, produced by the smoothing process, are introduced as candidate control input candidates, and the controller generates the optimum output voltage using a modulator integrated with the FCS-MPC scheme. Thus, the voltage candidates are generated flexibly, and a suitable voltage for acceptable steady-state performance is determined as the control input. In addition, the smoothness in the proposed concept can be updated automatically depending on the drive situation, that is, transient, or steady-state operation, thus avoiding degradation of dynamic performance. Simulation and experimental results obtained with a permanent magnet synchronous motor drive system demonstrate that the proposed control strategy is effective to achieve current control with fast tracking performance while suppressing current ripple.