Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning Applied to DC–DC Converters

Abstract

This article presents the application of a data-driven control design to the output voltage regulation of dc–dc converters. Using only data collected on the plant, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is designed in order to achieve a desired closed-loop response, without deriving a mathematical model for the plant. Since an inverse response is typical on voltage signals of different dc–dc converters, the virtual reference feedback tuning (VRFT) method with flexible criterion is applied to estimate the controller gains, so the limitation due to the nonminimum phase zero, if it exists, is taken into account by the algorithm. We present appropriate choices for data collection, controller structure, and reference model definition in order to safely apply the VRFT method to design a controller for dc–dc converters. A practical application on a boost converter shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.