An enhanced finite control set model predictive direct thrust control for linear induction motors

• Reducing the LIM thrust and flux linkage ripples. • Adopting the concept of the conventional DTC to reduce the number of voltage vectors used in the prediction step. • Investigating the summation of the switching states as a criterion to select the group of voltage vectors that will be fed to the prediction step. • Avoiding the use of all voltage vectors in the prediction stage • Decreasing the computation burden and the switching transition, which in turn reduces the switching losses. The finite-control-set model predictive direct thrust control (FCS-MPDTC) for linear induction machines (LIMs) remains underexplored, necessitating further research to fully harness its potential for LIM drive systems. Consequently, this research study proposes an efficient FCS-MPDTC for LIMs, focusing on reducing the number of voltage vectors (VVs) during the prediction phase and also suggests criteria to minimize the switching transition between the different voltage vectors, hence reducing the associated losses. The proposed approach builds on conventional direct thrust control (DTC), initially reducing the VVs from eight to four, comprising two active and two zero vectors, and further optimizing them to three VVs using switching transition criteria. Hence, this reduction in the predicted VVs significantly decreases computational complexity and switching losses, enhancing the cost-effectiveness of the LIM drive system. The proposed control methodology is validated through simulation, employing a 3-kW Arc machine. Results confirm that using three VVs instead of four or the conventional eight substantially reduces computation time and switching transitions. Furthermore, when subjected to different loading conditions, the execution time is reduced by 50% when employing the four VVs control and consequently lowers to less than 50% when the three VVs are adopted. Additionally, the numbers of one-switching and two-switching transitions for the proposed control method, which uses three VVs, are reduced to 56.61% and 35.85%, respectively, compared to four VVs. Finally, the proposed control strategies ensure the constancy of the primary flux linkage while concurrently achieving an exact tracking of the speed profile across varied speed and thrust load conditions.