Robust pole location with experimental validation for three-phase grid-connected converters

Abstract This paper provides design and experimental validation of robust current controllers for three-phase grid-connected converters. The main objectives here are: (i) to show that a simple polytopic model can be used for designing robust controllers for predominately inductive grids; (ii) to help in the choice of the control design parameter, based on a trade-off between an upper bound of the transient settling times and the control gain sizes. Linear matrix inequality based conditions are used to design the robust control gains with lower numerical complexity than similar conditions on literature. It is shown that small values the radius of pole location lead to better bounds for the transient responses, at the price of higher control gains. Good tracking of references for the grid currents is also illustrated in practice, allowing the closed-loop system to inject active and reactive power into the grid. Simulation and experimental results prove that the system connected to the grid can provide three-phase currents complying with requirements of an important international standard.