Artificial Neural Network for the Optimal Control of an AC Chopper Fed Induction Motor

Abstract

A novel concept of application of artificial neural networks for the optimal control of an ac chopper fed induction motor is presented. The speed of the induction motor is controlled by controlling the switching angles of the ac chopper. The idea proposed in this paper is to use artificial neural network (ANN) as a non-linear signal converter, which accepts the reference value of the modulation index as input and outputs the values of the primary switching angles. The use of neural network as a controller makes it possible to vary the switching angles optimally such that the selected dominant lower order harmonics are eliminated and high quality output is obtained. Hence, this contributes to the improvement in overall system performance. The ANN based drive system is simulated using SIMULINK toolbox in MATLAB package and performance observed. The superiority of the neural network based controller over the conventional analog and microprocessor based controller is also discussed.

Indexing terms:

• Artificial neural network
• AC chopper fed induction motor
• Control

Additional information

Notes on contributors

V Subbiah

V Subbiah, is the Professor & Head of the Dept of Electrical & Electronics Engg., PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore. He received his BE degree in Electrical Engg. from Madras University in 1965, ME in control systems from Calcutta University in 1968 and PhD also from Madras University in 1981. His field of specialisation is Power Electronics and Drives. From 1969 Onwards he is with the Department of EEE, in PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore. He has guided large number of UG and PG Projects and also many PhD Research projects. He has more than 30 technical papers published in national and international journals and Conferences.

K Geetha

K Geetha, is working as Assistant Professor in the EEE Department of NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad. She took her MTech in Energy system from NT, Madras. She is doing research in the area of Power Electronics and drives. She has around 15 technical papers published in National and International journals and Conferences. Her fields of interest are Power Electronics and Drives, Control Systems etc.

D Ramaraj

D Ramaraj, is a PG Student in the EEE Department of PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.