Continuous-Control-Set Model Predictive Current Control of Asymmetrical Six-Phase Drives Considering System Non-Idealities

Finite-control-set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) of multiphase (<italic>n</italic>-phase, <italic>n</italic> is assumed to be an odd number for simplicity) drives is challenging because of the large number of actual&#x002F;virtual voltage vectors and the need for current control in (<italic>n</italic>-1)&#x002F;2 sub-spaces (or planes; multi-plane current control). Any sub-optimal design (poor or no current control in some of the (<italic>n</italic>-1)&#x002F;2 planes) may result in high individual plane current ripples, due to the low reactance. This work therefore investigates continuous-control-set (CCS) MPC for constant switching frequency multiphase motor drives as another alternative. The high-bandwidth CCS-MPC is designed to accurately account for system non-idealities, namely digital control and pulse width modulation delays, inverter dead time, and measurement noise. It will be shown that the CCS-MPC has the advantages of full voltage vector space access, regular switching characteristic, and improved cycle-by-cycle tracking control, while maintaining some of the known advantages of the FCS-MPC, e.g., intuitive cost function design, model-based control, and fast dynamics. The proposed control scheme is benchmarked experimentally against the classical, proportional-integral-based, field-oriented control in conjunction with an asymmetrical six-phase induction motor drive.