Proportional Usage of Low-Level Actions in Model Predictive Control for Six-Phase Electric Drives

Finite Control-Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) appears as an interesting alternative to regulate multiphase electric drives, thanks to inherent advantages such as its capability to include new restrictions and fast-transient response. Nevertheless, in industrial applications, FCS-MPC is typically discarded to control multiphase motors because the absence of a modulation stage produces a high harmonic content. In this regard, multi-vectorial approaches are an innovative solution to improve the electric drive performance taking advantage of the implicit modulator flexibility of Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategies. This work proposes the definition of a new multi-vectorial set of control actions formed by a couple of adjacent large voltage vectors and a null voltage vector with an adaptative application ratio. The combination of two large voltage vectors provides minimum x-y current injection whereas the application of a null voltage vector reduces the active voltage production. Moreover, the optimum selection of the null voltage vector for each couple of large voltage vectors permits reducing the switching frequency. On the other hand, the active application time for this couple is estimated through an analytic function based on the operating point. This procedure avoids the use of an iterative process to define the duty cycles, hence significatively decreasing the computational burden.