Alternative control methods for DC–DC converters: An application to a four‐level three‐cell DC–DC converter

This paper proposes three synthesis methods for controlling power converters. The three control strategies yield state feedback control laws that are easy to implement. The first method is a stabilization approach, based on energetic principles and the notion of Lyapunov function. The second is an optimal control approach based on the minimum principle. The third is a neural predictive approach which uses model predictive control to track a given optimal stable limit cycle. This method allows a proper control of the waveform. Except for the predictive approach, system stability for the methods is guaranteed by construction. The four‐level three‐cell DC–DC converter is used as a benchmark to test these strategies. Simulation and experimental results show that the methods have a good performance even with load perturbations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.