FPGA-based dynamically reconfigurable control of induction motor drives

Field-oriented control has become state-of-the-art in AC drives. Nevertheless it is undisputed that other control approaches like the direct torque control can outperform the field-oriented control in some operating conditions, e.g. in terms of torque dynamics or voltage utilization in the flux weakening region. Therefore, this paper's purpose is to demonstrate the potential of a dynamically reconfigurable control, which can, depending on the current operating situation, switch between different controllers depending on the particular situation in order to improve the control performance within the entire operating region. The possible reconfiguration approaches as well as the constraints which have to be considered while switching between the different controllers are presented and validated on an induction motor test bench. As a result, it is shown that by suitably combining of the very well known basic control approaches, an improved control behavior in the whole operating region can be achieved without the need of modifying them in order to enhance control approach specific deficiencies.