Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Conventional and Sequential Predictive Control for Grid-Tied NPC Inverters: A Hardware-in-the-Loop Study

Bonaldo, Jakson; Duan, Beichen; Rivera, Marco; V. Ling, K.; Fantin, Camila; Wheeler, Patrick

Abstract

Model Predictive Control (MPC) has become very attractive for the efficient control of power converters. This paper compares Classical MPC (C-MPC) and Sequential MPC (S-MPC) for a three-level NPC converter. Although C-MPC is simple to implement, it faces challenges such as switching frequency variations and complex weighting factor tuning. S-MPC addresses these issues by prioritizing control objectives sequentially, eliminating weighting factors, and simplifying controller design. Simulation results show that S-MPC improves the tracking of output currents, reduces harmonic distortion, and enhances the balancing of dc–link voltages under steady-state and transient conditions. These findings establish S-MPC as a robust alternative to C-MPC, improving power quality and system performance in multilevel converter applications.

Citation

Bonaldo, J., Duan, B., Rivera, M., V. Ling, K., Fantin, C., & Wheeler, P. (2025). Comprehensive Performance Assessment of Conventional and Sequential Predictive Control for Grid-Tied NPC Inverters: A Hardware-in-the-Loop Study. Energies, 18(12), Article 3132. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18123132

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 12, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Jun 14, 2025
• Publication Date: Jun 2, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jul 10, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 10, 2025
• Journal: Energies
• Electronic ISSN: 1996-1073
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 12
• Article Number: 3132
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en18123132
• Keywords: grid-connected inverter; neutral-point clamped converter (NPC); power quality; renewable energy sources; sequential model predictive control
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/50704886
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/12/3132