Search

In this paper, a field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based speed controller for a synchronous machine with an internal current control loop based on a predictive current controller is presented. Due to their complex computation schemes, predictive current controllers implemented in a full digital system are characterized by an inevitable delay in calculating and applying the switching states to the inverter. Consequently, their performances are affected and the achieved sampling frequency is limited. These digital control limitations are mainly due to the processing speed versus computational complexity trade-off. To cope with this problem, specific digital hardware technology such as FPGA can be used as an alternative digital solution to ensure fast processing operation and to preserve performances of predictive current controllers in spite of their complex computation schemes. Such performances can be preserved thanks to the high flexibility and high computation capabilities of FPGAs. In order to illustrate this, an FPGA implementation of a synchronous machine speed controller based on a predictive current controller is presented and fully analyzed in this work. The obtained execution time is only of few microseconds for the whole control algorithm. Experimental results are shown to prove the efficiency of FPGA-based solutions to achieve high performances. Index Terms--Predictive current controller, speed controller, synchronous machine.

The aim of this paper is to present the interest of implementing digital controllers using field-programmable gate array (FPGA) components. To this purpose, a variety of current control techniques, which is applied to alternating current machine drives, is designed and implemented. They consist of ON-OFF current controllers, proportional-integral current controller, and predictive current controller. The quality of the regulated current is significantly improved. It is mainly due to a very important reduction of the execution time delay. Indeed, in all described techniques, the execution time of the designed hardware architectures is only a few microseconds. This time reduction derives directly from the possibility offered by FPGAs to design very powerful dedicated architectures. Numerous experimental results are given in order to illustrate the efficiency of FPGA-based solutions to achieve high-performance control of electrical systems. Index Terms--Alternating current (ac) machine drives, current control, field-programmable gate array (FPGA), hardware architecture design.

With the smart grid revolution, there is a growing interest in the use of power converters associated to LCL filters to interface between the main utility grid and loads or renewable energy sources. LCL filters are commonly used mainly due to their low cost and high filtering performances. To achieve these performances, it is necessary to meticulously pick out the LCL filter parameters, taking into account grid code requirements and grid configuration and/or conditions. Several methodologies for LCL filter design have been presented and discussed in the literature. The main goal of this paper is to propose a simple, robust and systematic design methodology for LCL filter parameter tuning. The considered design methodology is aimed to overcome the shortcomings of classical design methodologies, namely, stable operation under different grid configurations and conditions. Compared to previous works, the proposed design methodology allows the achievement of robust LCL filter design with regard to large grid impedance variations without the use of any damping method. Also, it takes into account accuracy of capacitor standard values and proposes a simple design method for the converter side inductor that avoids saturation problems. An example of LCL filter design is presented and discussed. The obtained filter parameters were firstly tested using a Matlab-Simulink software tool. After that, they were tested through the development of an experimental set-up. The obtained simulation and experimental results show the reliability and efficiency of the proposed design methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model based Predictive Control (MPC) is an efficient control technique for the control of power converters. It has several advantages for this kind of controls, such as robustness to parameters variations and fast dynamic responses. The MPC considers the model of the converter-based system to forecast possible future behavior of the controlled variable. It allows selecting the optimal voltage vector to be applied so that a predefined cost function is minimized. This paper focuses on an MPC algorithm for three-phase grid connected converter. Several simulation results (under Matlab-Simulink software environment tool) and experimental results (under developed prototyping platform) are presented in order to show the effectiveness of the considered control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to review the state-of-the-art of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technologies and their contribution to industrial control applications. Authors start by addressing various research fields which can exploit the advantages of FPGAs. The features of these devices are then presented, followed by their corresponding design tools. To illustrate the benefits of using FPGAs in the case of complex control applications, a sensorless motor controller has been treated. This controller is based on the Extended Kalman Filter. Its development has been made according to a dedicated design methodology, which is also discussed. The use of FPGAs to implement artificial intelligence-based industrial controllers is then briefly reviewed. The final section presents two short case studies of Neural Network control systems designs targeting FPGAs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]