A new FPGA based PMSM torque controller for hybrid and electric vehicles powertrain

This paper presents a new approach to vector PMSM control implemented on a FPGA platform with a soft processor core integration for floating point computation. An advanced vector control is developed, according to PMSM vector control state-of-the-art, where the torque reference is a direct input to the system, dynamically controlling the injection of stator current flux component, in order to direct control of the torque angle. This approach provides a more robust solution for electric and hybrid electric vehicles as the controlled variable is the torque and the controller actuates simultaneously on the flux and torque current components and their angle. State-of-the-art presents two different control methods based on stator current flux component injection and the authors discuss another two methods, considering different relations between air-gap flux, rotor flux and stator current vectors. These methods are described and one is shown as appropriate to electric vehicle powertrain applications, regarding performance, efficiency and motor parameters. Concerning motor position information feedback, a PLL-based sensorless control technique is presented and compared with a solution based on position measurement. A hardware and software prototype based on a Xilinx® Spartan-6 FPGA and an electric vehicle powertrain set up are developed and tested for performance validation and experimental results are presented. The results show a robust controller with a high dynamics response.