A Neural-Network-Based Model Predictive Control of Three-Phase Inverter With an Output LC Filter

TL;DR

This paper introduces a hybrid control approach combining model predictive control and neural networks for three-phase inverters, achieving lower harmonic distortion and better performance without intensive online calculations.

Contribution

It presents a novel neural network-based control scheme trained with MPC data, enabling real-time voltage control with reduced computational complexity.

Findings

ANN control achieves lower THD than traditional MPC.

The proposed method improves steady-state and dynamic response.

Simulation results validate effectiveness across various load conditions.

Abstract

Model predictive control (MPC) has become one of the well-established modern control methods for three-phase inverters with an output LC filter, where a high-quality voltage with low total harmonic distortion (THD) is needed. Although it is an intuitive controller, easy to understand and implement, it has the significant disadvantage of requiring a large number of online calculations for solving the optimization problem. On the other hand, the application of model-free approaches such as those based on artificial neural networks approaches is currently growing rapidly in the area of power electronics and drives. This paper presents a new control scheme for a two-level converter based on combining MPC and feed-forward ANN, with the aim of getting lower THD and improving the steady and dynamic performance of the system for different types of loads. First, MPC is used, as an expert, in the training phase to generate data required for training the proposed neural network. Then, once the neural network is fine-tuned, it can be successfully used online for voltage tracking purpose, without the need of using MPC. The proposed ANN-based control strategy is validated through simulation, using MATLAB/Simulink tools, taking into account different loads conditions. Moreover, the performance of the ANN-based controller is evaluated, on several samples of linear and non-linear loads under various operating conditions, and compared to that of MPC, demonstrating the excellent steady-state and dynamic performance of the proposed ANN-based control strategy.