GRUPO DE INGENIERÍA AUTOMÁTICA Y ROBÓTICA

Control Systems with Discrete Inputs. Application to Electronic Power Converters

2016-2019

 

 

  • DPI: 2016-75294-C2-1-R
  • Leading Researchers: Francisco Gordillo Álvarez; Francisco Salas Gómez
  • Area: Industrial Design and Production (Electric, Electronic and Automation Engineering)
  • Summary:

    Multilevel electronic power converters have been gaining ground as one of the best options for electric power conversion. This type of converters enjoy multiple advantages, such as the ability to supply higher power levels of magnitude, better waveform quality, and less harmonic distortion.

     

    However, controlling multilevel converters comes at the cost of increased control complexity. The discrete nature of the controller yields restrictive sampling times and the using of discrete input signals, as happens with the opening and closing of switched devices. This implies the inclusion of discrete variables in the model amd discrete-time sampling considerations. Averaged dynamical models are preferred initially and then a discretization is performed, where specific strategies must be devised in order to produce the averaged continuous values computed in the first stage. These strategies are known as modulation schemes, and the whole design procedure turns out to be hierarchical due to the separation of both phases.

     

    This project aims at creating new controller design techniques for these systems.

    • On the one hand, the use of new modulation techniques for averaged models will be combined with optimization algorithms.
    • On the other hand, from the hierarchical model and based on the consideration of the system hybrid nature, hybrid dynamical models and new control algorithms will be devised.

    This project seeks to apply them to a converter with certain complexity, available in the labs of the research group. It consists in a three-phase five-level Diode-clamped-converter (DCC) of 12kW and 800V dc connected to the grid. This type of converter, of which few prototypes are available today, is not yet widely used in industry. The reason for this are to be found in the difficulty of designing control algorithms, stemming from the need of balancing the four capacitor voltages. This implies makes the developed prototype an excellent opportunity to apply the techniques that will be developed in the project, with an important impact in the launching of new products.

     

  • General Objectives:
    1. Designing new algorithms to improve efficiency of multilevel converters by:
      1. Developing new modulation techniques based on optimization.
      2. Developing new control techniques for grid-connected converters based on hybrid dynamical systems.
      3. Combining both techniques mentioned above: Using hybrid system theory in modulation.
    2. Analysis of power electronic converter through hybrid dynamical system theory, including bifurcation analysis, which will stablish the designing of control algorithms.
    3. Experimental verification with the available system.
  • Project Members:
    • Federico Cuesta Rojo Research team member
    • Daniel Juan Pagano Project work team member
    • Carolina Albea Sánchez Project work team member
    • Luca Zaccarian Project work team member
    • Pablo Montero Robina Project work team member
    • Antonio Ventosa Cutillas Project work team member
  • Coordinated Subproject:

    Control Systems with Discrete Inputs. Application to Electronic Power Converters

    Fundación Universidad Loyola Andalucía

    • Fabio Gómez-Estern Aguilar Leading researcher
    • Lázaro Alvarado BarriosContracted personal member
    • Isabel Jurado Flores Institution personal member
    • Pablo Millán Gata Institution personal member
    • Manuel Ceballos González Institution personal member
    • Juan Francisco Carbonell Márquez Institution personal member
  • Publications:
    • Journal Papers
    • Conference Papers
    • Patents