Discrete event control for multicell choppers driving DC machines

In this paper an idea of control for a multicell chopper driving a DC machine is introduced by taking into account the capacitors voltage constraints. The multicell choppers fall into the category of dynamical switched systems and have gained a lot of popularity due to their high performances, compared to the classic chopper structures. They reduce the stress on the components by reducing the value of dV/dt and by distributing the voltage over the n cells (on each capacitor). This last property is very important in high power applications, reducing the costs of the components as well as being able to control each cell individually. The idea of the control algorithm introduced in this paper will be tested on a 2 cells - 2 branches structure driving a DC machine, under ideal and real conditions.