A New Non-linear H-infinity Feedback Control Approach for Three-phase Voltage Source Converters

Abstract

Abstract— This research work introduces a new method for feedback control of power electronics with non-linear dynamics, using as an application example the problem of three-phase voltage source converters. The control method consists of a repetitive solution of an H-infinity control problem for the voltage source converter, based on a locally linearized model of the converter, and takes place at each iteration of the control algorithm. The converter’s model is locally linearized around its current operating point through the computation of the associated Jacobian matrices. Using the linearized model of the converter, an H-infinity feedback control law is computed. The known robustness features of H-infinity control enable compensation for the errors of the approximate linearization, as well as elimination of the effects of external perturbations. The efficiency of the proposed control scheme is shown analytically and is confirmed through simulation experiments. The method can be also applied to other power electronics models.

Keywords:

• non-linear H-infinity feedback control
• robust control
• three-phase voltage source converters
• smart grid

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gerasimos Rigatos

Gerasimos Rigatos is currently a researcher (Grade B’) at the Industrial Systems Institute in Patras, Greece. He obtained his diploma in electrical engineering (1995) and his Ph.D. in control systems (2000) both from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. He has held research and teaching positions at INRIA-IRISA France (2001), Université Paris XI (2007), Harper-Adams University College, UK (2011-2012) and in Greek universities. He has published three Springer monographs. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Intelligent Industrial Systems, a senior member of the IEEE, and member of the IET and IMACS. His research interests include the areas of control and robotics, mechatronics, electric power systems, computational intelligence, fault diagnosis and optimization.

Pierluigi Siano

Pierluigi Siano received his M.Sc. in electronic engineering and his Ph.D. degree in information and electrical engineering from the University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy, in 2001 and 2006, respectively. He is an aggregate professor of electrical energy engineering with the Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno. In 2013 he received the Italian National Scientific Qualification as full professor in the competition sector electrical energy engineering. He has co-authored more than 160 papers including more than 70 in- ternational journals. He is an associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Intelligent Industrial Systems. His research activities are centered on the integration of distributed energy resources in smart distribution systems and on planning and management of power systems.

Carlo Cecati

Carlo Cecati received his Dr.Ing. in electrotechnics from the University of LÁquila, Italy, in 1983. Since 1983, he has been with the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of LÁquila, where he is currently a professor of industrial electronics and drives and a Rector’s Delegate. He is the founder and the coordinator of the Ph.D. courses on management of renewable energies and sustainable building at the University of LÁquila. In 2007, he founded DigiPower Ltd., LÁquila, which is a spin-off dealing with industrial electronics and renewable energies. He is editor-in-chief of IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics and has also been a technical editor of IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics. He is a member of IEEE IES Committees on Renewable Energy Systems and on Power Electronics. His research and technical interests cover several aspects of power electronics and electrical drives.