An enhanced predictive current control technique for interior permanent magnet synchronous motor drives with extended voltage space vectors for electric vehicles

Summary Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) are widely employed in the application of electric vehicles (EVs) due to their simplicity of operation. Model predictive current control (MPCC) is an advanced technique used to control the PMSM owing advantages like multi‐variable cost function and good dynamic performance. Cost function of predictive current control (PCC) does not require the flux weighting factor; hence, it is simple in the selection of suitable voltage vector (VV). The conventional PCC (C‐PCC) applied to interior PMSM (IPMSM) contains more torque and flux ripples as it includes only one set of voltage vectors for all speed ranges. In proposed PCC (P‐PCC), the magnitude and location of voltage vectors is to be selected as large and small VVs to reduce torque ripples. The P‐PCC in this article utilizes two set of extended voltage vectors (large and small VVs) based on the applied speed change in dynamic conditions and hence reduces the ripple content. Incorporating maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) control in this article serves the purpose of optimizing the machine performance. By adding MTPA to the proposed method, it is aimed to enhance the machine performance with less ripples and improved torque response. Simulation results are presented for conventional and P‐PCC to highlight the effectiveness and efficacy of the P‐PCC. The P‐PCC is experimentally verified with 3.7 kW PMSM using d‐SPACE controller. An enhanced predictive current control (PCC) method is proposed to reduce the ripples in the machine by considering two voltage vector groups as low‐speed region and high‐speed region. The optimum voltage vector is selected based on the speed change dynamics. This method also reduces switching frequency of the inverter. The proposed method is verified with Indian drive cycle for EV applications.