Real-time hybrid model predictive control of a boost converter with constant power load

In this paper, a model predictive control method is implemented for improved performance of a boost converter sourcing a constant power load (CPL). The method applies results of recently developed hybrid optimal model predictive control to determine switching through real-time minimization of a user-defined performance index tailored to CPLs. In contrast to many controllers designed for boost converters, the proposed method does not utilize small-signal average value models in its development. Therefore, the controller design is not equilibrium-point specific. In addition, since the optimization is performed online, the control is more flexible than many recently proposed controllers that utilize the hybrid model to determine optimal switching strategies offline and subsequently apply utilizing a look-up table. The result is a robust, high bandwidth control that has been validated in hardware.