A New Robust Digital Non-Linear Control for Power Factor Correction—Arc Welding Applications

• Main Authors: Quentin Bellec, Jean-Claude Le Claire, Mohamed Fouad Benkhoris, Peyofougou Coulibaly
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-02-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: power factor correction; arc welding; non-linear control; robust current controller; self-oscillation; digital control
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/4/991

A welding power source is commonly assimilated to a non-linear load. Arc welding market being in full growth, the resulting harmonic pollution is becoming an increasingly difficult problem to ignore. Therefore, the main purpose of this work is to define and implement the most suitable solution for power factor correction in a welding power source. Due to the high non-linearity of the electric arc, the current controller used to control grid current need to show high robustness. Consequently, this paper focuses on the digitization of a very robust Phase-Shift Self-Oscillating Current Controller (PSSOCC), which only exists in its analog version until then, to carry out this task. After quick descriptions of the entire energy conversion chain and the PSSOCC operation principle, a model of the digital PSSOCC is proposed. Then, the quality and the accuracy of the aforementioned model are evaluated and its operating limits are identified. Afterwards, the behavior of the digital controller is studied within a Power Factor Correction (PFC) regulation for several specific arc welding operating modes. Finally, excellent robustness of this new FPGA-based digital current controller, named DPSSOCC, is confirmed on a three-phase Vienna converter test bench.