Enhanced Control Design of Simple DC-DC Boost Converter-driven DC Motors: Analysis and Implementation

Abstract

The DC-DC boost converter is one of the simplest power electronic devices that has not been yet exploited in a wide range of industrial applications due to control design difficulties caused by its model inherent special structure. Such an industrial application is the DC motor speed regulation that is studied in the present work. Particularly, in this article, a novel, non-linear control scheme for the duty ratio input of the converter is proposed, which is extensively analyzed and experimentally tested. The proposed design, though non-linear, results in a very simple scheme, ensures that the duty ratio takes values exclusively in the permitted range [0,1), achieves precise speed regulation even in cases of high unknown load disturbances, and does not depend on system parameters and states. Simultaneously, the design is formulated in a manner that provides a closed-loop passive system, which, as proven in the article, satisfies all these assumptions and properties that make possible the application of a new advanced non-linear method that strongly connects passivity with stability. Thus, the boundedness of all the closed-loop states and the stability and convergence to the desired steady-state equilibrium are directly concluded. The theoretical analysis is verified through extended simulation and experimental results.

Keywords:

• motor speed control
• dc drives
• dc-dc boost converter control
• nonlinear control and analysis

Appendix

Additional information

Notes on contributors

George C. Konstantopoulos

George C. Konstantopoulos received his Diploma and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, Rion, Greece, in 2008 and 2012, respectively. He has been with the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK, since 2013, where he is currently a research fellow. He is a member of the IEEE and a member of the National Technical Chamber of Greece. His current research interests include non-linear modeling, control, and stability analysis of power converter, and electric machine systems with an emphasis in microgrid operation, renewable energy systems, and motor drives.

Antonio T. Alexandridis

Antonio T. Alexandridis received his Diploma in electrical engineering from the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Patras, Greece, in 1981. In 1987, he received his Ph.D. from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of W. Virginia University, USA. In 1988, he joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Patras, where he is now a full professor and head of the Power Systems Division. He is a member of IEEE and a member of the National Technical Chamber of Greece. He has authored more than 130 international journal and conference papers in his fields of interest. His research interests include control theory, non-linear dynamics, optimal control, and advanced control applications on power systems and drive systems. His current interests are focused on renewable power generation, control, and stability (wind generators, PV systems, microgrids, etc.).