Induction Motor Speed Control using a Proportional-Integral Controller with Particle Swarm Optimization

Induction motors are widely used for their reliability and power capabilities. The speed of an induction motor can be adjusted by modifying either the output frequency, output voltage, or both while maintaining a constant voltage-frequency ratio. This adjustment can be achieved within a Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) circuit using Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) techniques. Additionally, a Proportional-Integral (PI) controller can regulate the SPWM by providing error feedback. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to optimize the PI controller parameters to enhance the speed regulation of a three-phase squirrel-cage induction motor. This paper examines the dynamic performance of a three-phase induction motor controlled by a three-phase bridge inverter. A model of the induction motor is developed using Simscape blocks, and its dynamic behavior in closed-loop control is simulated in MATLAB-Simulink under a fan profile as a mechanical load. The simulation results demonstrate that the closed-loop control, utilizing the PI-SPWM controller with the PSO technique, provides excellent speed regulation, as the motor speed tracks the desired speed effectively despite variations in load.