Technology Readiness Assessment of Model Predictive Control in Medium- and High-Voltage Power Electronics

Model predictive control (MPC) technologies could deliver numerous competitive advantages for power electronics converters and systems with varying impact and benefits. However, assessing the benefits of such advanced and relatively complex control methods at both converter and system level for specific industrial applications is a serious challenge. Moreover, industry must move these technologies from the research and development stage to a maturity level where integrating them into commercial products is relatively low risk and offers economic advantages to customers. First, a generic technology readiness and risk assessment framework is discussed in this paper. Key developments of MPC technologies in power electronics are mapped across their technology readiness levels. Two cases in the area of medium-voltage motor drives are outlined in more detail. Both steady-state and dynamic performance benefits are considered and an attempt to translate them into more tangible economic benefits is reported.