Grid Interactive PV-fed BLDC Motor with Power Quality Features using Predictive Current Control

Renewable energy features have contributed to the popularity of solar Photo Voltaic (PV) in recent decades, which can operate in grid-connected mode or islanded mode with energy storage systems. The expected features of the controller are to provide reliable power even under high-fidelity dynamic conditions. In this paper, a grid-interactive solar PV-fed Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor water pump is implemented, using a non-linear model predictive current controller. Additionally, power quality features are included in PV DC-DC converters and grid-side three-phase voltage source inverters (TPVSI). It is not recommended to use linear control structures that operate at a single operating point, such as Proportional Integral (PI) controllers. Also, under dynamic load conditions; such as sudden changes in DC loads, starting of BLDC motor, sudden load applied or removed from the motor pump, and changes in linear or non-linear loads applied at Point of Common Coupling (PCC). Therefore, a proper control scheme is required to alleviate these challenges. A grid-interactive solar PV-fed BLDC motor with a non-linear-based model predictive controller is required. The proposed predictive controller helps to achieve (i) better dynamics during the sudden changes, (ii) unity power factor on the grid side despite non-linear loads being connected, and (iii) the PV panel operates at its maximum power point under all conditions. The proposed model predictive controller with solar pump is validated through MATLAB/SIMULINK and results are presented.