Current-sensorless predictive control for DC-DC converters

DC-DC converters are used to convert a DC input voltage into a DC output voltage. In order to achieve a positive performance controlling this kind of DC drives, both voltage and current measurement are required as feedback signals for traditional controllers such as voltage-mode and current-mode control which use pulse width modulation (PWM). Using the predictive control strategy, the circuit inductor current can be estimated based on the mathematical model of the system, which can be incorporated in the control law. This paper illustrates the use of predictive controller for regulating the output voltage of DC-DC converters without the need to measure the inductor current, in this way the output voltage is the only system feedback signal. The predictive controller handles the constraints on the inputs and outputs of the controlled system. A numerical validation has been fulfilled by using Matlab environment for a DC-DC converter.