A novel lookup table based model predictive torque control strategy using matrix converter suitable for permanent magnet synchronous motor fed marine electric propulsion drives

Abstract

AbstractMatrix converter (MC), an embryonic stage AC–AC converter with dynamic potentialities which is well suitable for the efficient propulsion and better maneuverability of marine vehicles with ensured power quality. The increased number of voltage vectors in MC facilitates a vibrant control over the propulsion motor and also the compactness in MC structure is a desirable aspect. The MC fed finite control set‐model predictive control (FCS‐MPC) is an attractive and effective modern concept of motor control. However, the industrial implementation of MC fed FCS‐MPC is immature due to its necessity of powerful and expensive processors, as it employs more prediction voltage vectors which correspondingly increase the execution duration of the control algorithm. Hence, this paper presents an efficient 12 sector based lookup table for the optimization and reduction of prediction voltage vectors in the FCS‐MPC without complicating the computation processing, which is suitable for the permanent magnet synchronous motor drive embedded in the marine propulsion unit. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is analyzed using the MATLAB environment and its steady state, dynamic and transient performances are investigated and validated using the real time OPAL RT lab system in comparison to the conventional methods. The significant idea behind this article is to propose a superior MC fed FCS‐MPC concept for the marine propulsion motors with diminished torque and flux ripples, which can be easily implemented with economically feasible processors.