Model Predictive PWM Control Simulation for Commutation Torque Ripple Suppression in BLDC Motor

Authors:

K.Lalitha , D.Kamalakshi , K.Jahnavi , K.Teja Naga Sri Bhavani Final Year Students, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Seshadri Rao Gudlavalleru Engineering College Gudlavalleru, Andhra Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT: 

This project aims to minimize commutation torque ripple in a Brushless DC (BLDC) motor through a simulation-based method using Model Predictive Control (MPC). Although BLDC motors are popular for their efficiency, durability, and compact design, they experience torque fluctuations during commutation, leading to unwanted vibration, acoustic noise, and reduced performance. This problem mainly arises because the inductive windings prevent instantaneous changes in current, causing an imbalance between the increasing current in the incoming phase and the decreasing current in the outgoing phase. As a result, variations in electromagnetic torque occur. To address this issue, a PWM-based MPC strategy is applied, where the controller uses a mathematical model to predict future current behavior and accordingly regulates the inverter switching through PWM signals. The key objective is to keep the current in the non-commutating phase stable during commutation, thereby reducing current mismatch and suppressing torque ripple. The entire system, including the BLDC motor, inverter, and control algorithm, is modeled and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink, and its performance is evaluated against a conventional Proportional-Integral (PI) controller. The results demonstrate that the PWM-MPC technique produces smoother current profiles, effectively reduces torque ripple, and enhances overall motor operation, while remaining practical and economical as it does not require changes to existing hardware.