Advanced control of five-phase PMSM using combined fractional-order super-twisting algorithm with modified SVM approach

Abstract Multi-phase machine drives are gaining attention in the fields of electrical machines and control due to their benefits. However, the application of these motors is challenging due to the inefficiency of conventional control techniques in multiphase systems. This paper presents an enhanced direct torque control (DTC) method for a five-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). The problems of variable switching frequency and limitations of the proportional integral (PI) controller have been overcome by integrating a fractional-order super-twisting sliding mode algorithm (FOSTSMA) with a modified space vector modulation (MSVM) technique. This MSVM approach determines minimum and maximum voltage values to achieve superior performance. The proposed DTC-MSVM-FOSTSMA strategy significantly outperforms traditional DTC by offering better robustness and an improved dynamic response. Simulation results in MATLAB confirmed the proposed DTC-MSVMFOSTSMA strategy’s efficacy in enhancing motor performance. Compared to conventional DTC and DTC-MSVM-PI methods, this approach yielded substantial improvements: an 83.33% and 78.57% reduction in response time, a 61.84% and 32.55% decrease in torque ripple, and a 58.64% and 34.52% minimization of stator flux ripples, respectively. Additionally, the proposed control exhibits robust performance under parameter variations.