Fuzzy logic-based reactive power control for power factor enhancement in EV drives

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Automotive Engineering
• Control Systems

Background:

• Induction motors (IM) are prevalent in electric vehicle (EV) drives due to their advantages.
• Current speed control algorithms (DTC, FOC, DPC) often lack supplementary energy efficiency, especially with irregular EV drive cycles.
• Efficient power factor control is critical for optimizing EV performance and energy consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a fuzzy logic-based reactive power control strategy for IM drives in EVs.
• To enhance the power factor of IM drives by intelligently managing reactive power flow.
• To simplify control by eliminating the need for complex flux estimators and observers.

Main Methods:

• A fuzzy logic controller was designed to govern reactive power flow based on reference speed and torque commands.
• The proposed fuzzy logic control was implemented and tested on a 0.75 kW induction motor drive.
• Extensive simulations and experimental studies were conducted using a wide-ranging EV driving cycle.
• Performance was compared against the widely used Field-Oriented Control (FOC) scheme.

Main Results:

• The fuzzy logic-based reactive power control significantly improved the power factor across various EV driving conditions.
• The proposed method demonstrated effectiveness without requiring complicated flux estimators or observers.
• The technique showed superior performance compared to the traditional FOC scheme in simulations and experiments.

Conclusions:

• Fuzzy logic-based reactive power control offers an effective and simplified approach to enhance power factor and energy efficiency in EV induction motor drives.
• This method is particularly beneficial for addressing the challenges posed by irregular EV drive cycles.
• The proposed technique presents a viable alternative for improving the overall performance and energy management of electric vehicle powertrains.