Performance Analysis of Multi-Level Inverter-Fed Position Sensorless PMSM Drive Using Modified MPTC

Abstract

In this article, the performance of multilevel inverter-fed position sensorless permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive is analyzed using modified model predictive torque control (MPTC) method using two-level and three-level inverters, respectively. The MPTC method helps to control electromagnetic torque directly, which is not possible in model predictive current control, whereas the conventional model predictive torque and flux control method requires weighing factors that are similar to PI controllers used in field-oriented control or direct torque and flux control method. To simplify the control structure, most of the researchers are looking forward to weighing factorless predictive control strategies. The multilevel inverters required complex control algorithms such as space vector modulation. However, the model predictive control methods made it simple by using an embedded control structure. Furthermore, position sensorless control strategies are much needed because speed sensors are much prone to failures. Therefore, in this article, a model reference adaptive system (MRAS)–based speed sensorless approach is used to eliminate the requirement of a position sensor. The proposed multilevel inverter-fed position sensorless PMSM drive using modified MPTC is simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment under different operating conditions such as under no-load, load, and change in speed. The simulation results are validated with the experimental results.

KEYWORDS:

• Electric vehicle
• Finite control set-model predictive control (FCS-MPC)
• Model predictive torque control
• MRAS
• PMSM
• Speed sensorless

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

T. R. thanks the financial support (project file no. EEQ/2018/001067) from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.

Notes on contributors

Poondla Dharmendra Kumar

Poondla Dharmendra Kumar was born in Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 1996. He received the B.Tech. degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Audisankara College of Engineering & Technology (autonomous) affiliated to JNTU Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 2017. He received the MTech degree in electrical and electronics engineering with power and industrial drives specialization from JNTU Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 2019. He is currently working towards his Ph.D in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Andhra Pradesh, India. His research interests include speed control of AC drives, model predictive control technique, and multi-level inverters. Email: [email protected]

Tejavathu Ramesh

Tejavathu Ramesh was born in Banapuram Thanda Village, Khammam, Telangana, India, in 1987. He received the BTech degree in electrical and electronics engineering from JNTU Hyderabad, India, in 2009. He received the MTech and PhD degrees in electrical engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India, in 2011 and 2016, respectively. He is currently working as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Andhra Pradesh, India. Since 2019, he has been holding the charge of deputy registrar, Hostels & Guest House at NIT Andhra Pradesh. His research interests include power electronics and drives, electrical machines, applications of soft computing techniques, and renewable energy sources. He has reported the results of his research (25+ articles) in reputed international journals and conferences.

Pothuraju Ramakrishna

Pothuraju Ramakrishna was born in Y N Palli Village, Badvel, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 1992. He received BTech degree in electrical and electronics engineering from JNTU Anantapur, India, in 2014. He received the MTech degree in electrical engineering Department with power electronics and drives specialization from National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, India, in 2018. He is currently working towards Doctor of Philosophy degree in Electrical Engineering Department from the National Institute of Technology Andhra Pradesh, India, since July 2019. His research interests include power electronics and drives, electrical machines, multilevel inverters, applications of fault-tolerant techniques to multilevel inverters, and renewable energy sources. Email: [email protected]