A robust hybrid current control for permanent-magnet synchronous motor drive

Recently, the permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) has found widespread utilization in modern adjustable AC drives. This is achieved by using current-controlled voltage source inverter (VSI) systems. Because of its ease of implementation, fast current control response and inherent peak current-limiting capability, hysteresis current control is considered as the simplest technique used to control the motor currents for an AC machine. On the other hand, the ramp comparator controller has some advantages, such as limiting maximum inverter switching frequency to the carrier triangular waveform frequency and producing well-defined harmonics. In order to take advantage of the position features of both these two controllers, this paper presents the design and software implementation of a hybrid current controller. The proposed intelligent controller is a simultaneous combination and contribution of the hysteresis current controller and the ramp comparator. Comparisons using simulations on a 0.9-kW PMSM confirm that the proposed hybrid current controller gives better performance and has the advantage of conceptual simplicity. In particular, harmonic spectra of the stator current, obtained using a fast Fourier transform (FFT), are used for comparison purposes.