Applying model-based predictive control to the grid-side converter in a bidirectional battery charger for electric vehicles

• Grant number: 25/02648-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: November 22, 2025
• End date: January 19, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Industrial Electronics, Electronic Systems and Controls
• Principal Investigator: Alfeu Joãozinho Sguarezi Filho
• Grantee: Alfeu Joãozinho Sguarezi Filho
• Host Investigator: Sorin Olaru
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Química (IQ)
• Institution abroad: École Centralesupélec, France
• Associated research grant: 17/11986-5 - Generation and storage of New Energy: bringing technological development for the country, AP.PCPE

Abstract

This research project aims to apply model-based predictive control (MPC) to the grid-side bidirectional power converter of a charger for EVs through a research internship carried out by Prof. Alfeu Sguarezi. The ultimate goal is to achieve a high degree of vehicle-to-grid power regulation with a low level of harmonic distortion injected into the grid, as well as guaranteeing operation in the face of internal and external disturbances. The proposed system contains a power converter on the three-phase grid side and battery charging is initially emulated by a programmable source connected to the direct current (DC) bus side. The design of the MPC in vector space is one of the main challenges of this project, which we intend to overcome through theoretical analysis of singular values (SVD, Singular Value Decomposition), simulations and experimental tests. The studies within the scope of this project aim to contribute to the efficient transition to electric mobility and to the development of distributed energy resources in future smart grids. (AU)