Antonino Oscar Di Tommaso

• Master of Engineering
• Associate professor Head of RPLab and EDALab at University of Palermo

This paper proposes a simple mixed-carrier-based PWM strategy driven through a hysteresis control to address the issues related to voltage imbalances and low-frequency oscillation in the DC-link capacitors voltage. The goal of this approach is to avoid extra power losses, power quality issues and reduced lifespan of capacitors by exploiting the fea...

The growing interest in electrical machines equipped with multiphase configurations has directed the research to the conception of new design methods and optimization strategies to maximize the performance and the efficiency of the machine for its specific application. In this context, a noticeable gap persists in the comprehensive generalized theo...

In this work, a novel split-space-vector-based finite control set model predictive control for an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor drive fed by a three-phase five-level cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter is proposed. The key novelty of this work is related to the ability of the proposed algorithm to guarantee the inverter sub-modules...

This paper presents a streamlined two-layer control system for effective power sharing and switching control in a DC microgrid designed for electric vehicles. The system integrates Energy Storage Systems and advanced converters to ensure a broad operational range and bidirectional power flow. The Dual active bridge topology is used to integrate the...

The effects of DC source voltage unbalance on the CHB inverter, if not properly managed, reduce the efficiency of the whole power system and generate unwanted harmonics in the output voltage with increased THD. In this paper, an SHE technique operating at the fundamental frequency has been proposed for unbalanced five-level CHB inverters to fix the...

Due to the stochastic nature of RES energy storage systems (ESS) play a considerable role in the stability of modern microgrids. Among the possible bidirectional DC-DC converters that can connect ESS to Microgrids, the Single Inductor Four Switch Non-Inverting Buck-Boost (SIFBB) allows flexibility, due to the step-down or step-up operation. To incr...

In this paper, the control of a PV-battery-based DC microgrid is studied for powering the electrolyzer. Three-phase interleaving topology is implemented for three different converters , boost, four switches single inductor buck-boost (FSIB), and buck respectively. The MPPT and droop-based control is advised for maximum power extraction and DC bus v...

In this work, a novel multi-objective voltage-vector-based finite control set model predictive control for a permanent magnet synchronous machine drive fed by a three-phase five-level cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter is proposed. This algorithm aims to overcome the main issues relative to model predictive control implementation detected in the...

This article presents a streamlined two-layer control system for effective power sharing in a DC microgrid designed for electric vehicles. The system integrates Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and advanced converters to ensure a broad operational range and bidirectional power flow. The enhanced droop control strategy is advised for the upper layer and...

DC Microgrids smartly integrate RES and energy storage systems (ESS) through the use of DC-DC converters. The connection between ESS and RES-connected DC Microgrids is implemented with bidirectional DC-DC converters, thus allowing charge and discharge of the storage system. Among the possible bidirectional DC-DC converters that can connect ESS to D...

This paper presents a novel and simple procedure for the determination of a Fault-Tolerant Algorithm (namely FTA) for the adequate working operation of an electric machine equipped with a general m -phase winding under possible open circuits occurring in some of its phases. The FTA is firstly theoretically derived from the analysis of the magneti...

This paper proposes a general analytical formulation for LCL filter design for grid-connected PWM-driven cascaded Hbridge inverters. The novelty of this work deals with providing some easy-of-use analytical expressions that allow for properly sizing the filter inductances and capacitance values considering the number of voltage levels, the DC-link...

This article presents an experimental validation of modeling approaches for the AB-FB battery, an innovative technology with significant potential for large-scale energy storage applications. The results demonstrate, through experimental analyses that a simplified zero-order equivalent circuit model (ECM) provides adequate accuracy in predicting th...

Alias: how to repair an old broken/faulty dual thyristor bridge rectifier. Everything started as I realized that the rectifier electronic control board in my lab had failed. So, I decided to roll up my sleeves and with the help of a thesis student (now a PhD student) I redesigned the whole board and the rectifier control algorithm. The new board h...

Power converters have a wide range of applications in energy storage units for e-mobility. In this paper, a dual-loop sliding mode control algorithm is proposed for output voltage regulation and current control of single inductor four switches (SIFoS) non-inverting DC-DC buck-boost converter. The converter and controller are studied as an applicati...

In this project, an intelligent microgrid integrating renewable energies and a storage system is proposed. Artificial intelligence (AI) based energy management and nonlinear control algorithms are advised to solve critical issues like stochastic nature of renewable energies, optimal use of storage system, nonlinearities of the system and integratio...

Power converters have a wide range of applications in energy storage units for e-mobility. In this paper, a dual-loop sliding mode control algorithm is proposed for output voltage regulation and current control of single inductor four switches (SIFoS) non-inverting DC-DC buck-boost converter. The converter and controller are studied as an applicati...

To avoid leg short-circuit in inverters, dead time must be introduced on leg gate signals. Dead time affects the inverter output voltage fundamental harmonic amplitude, voltage harmonic distortion and inverter efficiency by introducing additional voltage drops. In this regard, dead time effects have been widely investigated for traditional two-leve...

The objective of this paper is to illustrate an alternative control algorithm for power converters which have the task of introducing the energy generated by systems based on the use of renewable sources such as, photovoltaic or wind power, in to small-sized networks, microgrids. Virtual Synchronous Generator can operate both in parallel to the mai...

In this paper, a Dynamic Resonant Inductive Power Transfer (DRIPT) System for the Electric Vehicle (EV) battery charging is proposed. In particular, the aim of the work is the general design of the whole system and its validation, with particular attention to the power electronic converters and their control. For the transmitter side, a DC/AC conve...

The CHBMI performance optimization can be reached both with hardware and software solutions. Generally, asymmetrical configurations allow the extension of the voltage levels number and the implementation of an innovative modulation strategy allows for improving the performance in terms of harmonic distortion and conversion efficiency. This work is...

A recursive method that eliminates n +1 harmonics and their respective multiples from the output voltage of a cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverters with s = 2 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> n </sup> dc sources ( n = 1, 2, 3,...) is proposed. It solves 2×2 linear systems with not...

In this paper, management and control problem of hybrid energy storage system (HESS) has been solved by master-slave control strategy. Heuristic fuzzy rules based algorithm is developed for optimal power sharing between different power sources. The master control is followed by a slave level controller , designed by using terminal synergetic contro...

In this paper, a software-based resolver to digital converter (RDC) is proposed. The hardware signal conditioning circuit is realized using common electronic components, while the algorithm can be implemented either using a microcontroller or an FPGA. Its validation and performance analysis has been carried out using an interior permanent magnet sy...

-For enhanced control algorithm design purposes, accurate and high-fidelity electrical machine mathematical models are fundamentals. Usually, accurate evaluation of electrical machine behaviour requires finite element analysis (FEA) with consequent high-computational times. This paper presents an improved high-fidelity Interior Permanent Magnet Syn...

The objective of this paper is to illustrate an alternative control algorithm for power converters which have the task of introducing the energy generated by systems based on the use of renewable sources such as photovoltaic or wind power, into small-sized networks, microgrids. Virtual Synchronous Generator can operate both in parallel to the main...

This article describes a simple cogging torque minimization procedure for interior permanent magnet synchronous machines (IPMSMs), consisting of a progressive modification of the rotor lamination geometry. This procedure can be generalized for the main topologies of PMSM, independently of the number of stator slots or the location of the permanent...

In the scenario of a more and more sustainable society, an increasing electrification in different fields, such as mobility and industrial applications, is foreseen in the next decades. As far as power electronics is concerned, a challenging perspective is represented by achieving higher and higher switching frequencies while maintaining high volta...

In this paper multilevel cascaded H-bridges (CHB) three phase inverters with 2n dc sources, n = 1, 2, 3, ... are considered and a mathematical formulation providing both 2n switching angles and dc voltage source to eliminate n + 1 harmonics and their respective multiple from their output voltage waveform, is proposed. The computed angles don’t depe...

Electrical drives fed by Multilevel Inverters (MIs) are of considerable interest for traction and e-mobility applications. In detail, Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter (CHBMI) is a promising solution for electrical drive optimization purposes in terms of efficiency, safety, integration and flexible use of energy sources. The aim of this paper i...

Cascaded H-Bridges Multilevel Inverter (CHBMI) is a fascinating solution for optimization purposes in several application fields. The CHBMI performance optimization can be reached both with hardware and software solutions. In detail, the CHBMI performances are a function of the modulation strategy adopted and its parameters such as modulation index...

The effects of voltage unbalancing on total harmonic distortion and on output voltages in cascaded H-bridge inverters are considered in the case of five and seven level cascaded Hbridges inverters fed by unequal dc voltage sources. Three phase output voltages are expanded in terms of Fourier system of equations then, obtained series is solved throu...

Unified Field Theory was an expression first used by Einstein in his attempt to unify general relativity with electromagnetism. Unified Field Theory and Occam's Razor attempts to provide real answers to foundational questions related to this unification and should be of high interest to innovative scientists. A diverse group of contributing authors...

The current climatic scenario requires the use of innovative solutions to increase the production of electricity from renewable energy sources. Multilevel Power Inverters are a promising solution to improve the penetration of renewable energy sources into the electrical grid. Moreover, the performance of MPIs is a function of the modulation strateg...

In the energy storage field, supercapacitors (SCs) are gaining more and more attention thanks to features such as high-power density, high life cycles and lack of maintenance. In this article, an improved SC three-branches model which considers the residual charge phenomenon is presented. The procedure to estimate the model parameters and the relat...

The international standard IEC 61800-9-2 introduces energy efficiency classification for frequency converters or complete drive module (CDM) and provides instrumentation minimum requirements for accurate measurement of CDM input and output power valid for conventional pulse-width-modulated (PWM) voltage source inverter (VSI). This paper highlights...

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the use of a novel Harmonic Mitigation algorithm for Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter in electrical drives for the transportation field. For this purpose, an enhanced mathematical model of Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM), that takes into account simultaneously saturation, cross-cou...

High speed electrical drives and machines represent a promising solution to cope with the increasing electrification in several fields, e.g. industrial electronics and mobility. According to that, power electronics is going more and more towards innovative technologies of semiconductor devices,such as Gallium-Nitride (GaN) and Silicon-Carbide (SiC)...

The full electric aircraft concept requires accurate design and suitable choice and integration of all the used components. Obviously, the electric propulsion drive is one of the most important on-board equipment. Both power converters and electric motors must have low weight, suitable overload capacity and high reliability. In this paper, two poss...

In order to guarantee a correct classification in the standardized energy efficiency classes, the current standards concerning 6the power drive systems prescribe that their power losses must be evaluated with great accuracy. This circumstance involves the usage 7of expensive measurement systems, since accurate instrumentation, skilled personnel and...

This paper presents a practical implementation of synchronous PWM modulation algorithm for an induction motor field oriented control powered by a DC/AC inverter and implemented on a low-cost microcontroller, the ATSAM3X8E. In particular, a simple lgorithm, capable to calculate automatically an optimized set of frequency modulation indexes will be p...

This paper presents a comparative simulation analysis of an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (IPMSM) performance once fed by a traditional three-phase two-level inverter and then using a three-phase five-level Cascaded H-Bridges Multilevel Inverter (CHBMI). For this purpose, an enhanced mathematical model of the IPMSM, that take into a...

This paper presents a simple, practical and low-cost implementation of a power losses minimization algorithm for three-phase induction motors taking also into account both iron core losses and magnetic saturation. The algorithm evaluates, in real-time, the optimal direct axis magnetizing flux component for efficiency enhancement of the drive. A fur...

The research of innovative solutions to improve the efficiency of electric drives is of considerable interest to challenges related to energy savings and sustainable development. In order to successfully validate the adoption of new and innovative software or hardware solutions in the field of electric drives, accurate measurement procedures for ei...

This work provides an investigation based on a fast estimation of the degree of unbalance (D.U.%) and the differential leakage factor (σ0) of multiphase electrical machine windings. This analysis is carried out by exploring almost 5000 combinations in terms of number of slots, pole pairs, phases and layers. The variability of the leakage factor is...

Electric vehicles represent an optimal solution for the reduction of pollution in urban areas. In particular, the Fuel Cell (FC) technology is a promising solution especially for its charging times and zero CO2 direct emissions. The paper addresses the design and performance study of an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (IPMSM) drive po...

This paper presents a general procedure for the accurate measurement of power losses variations in electrical drives. More specifically, the paper addresses the issue related to the efficiency comparison of electrical drive controlled with different control algorithms. This procedure is applied to a permanent magnet synchronous motor drive, assessi...

The Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous machine (IPMSM) conventional mathematical model is generally employed to investigate and simulate the IPMSM control and drive system behaviour. However, magnetic nonlinearities and spatial harmonics have a substantial influence on the IPMSM electromagnetic behaviour and performances. In order to simulate th...

This paper presents a low-cost Micro Controller Unit (MCU) implementation of an enhanced Field Oriented Control (FOC) technique that takes into account the non-linearity of the ferromagnetic material. The algorithm is applied to a three- phase 5.5 kW Induction Motor (IM) and experimentally carried out by means of an ATMEL ATSAM3X8E microcontroller....

The aim of this work is the experimental characterization of a Wireless Charging System based on IPT (Inductive Power Transfer) supplied by a PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) in order to verify the possibility of its installation in not electrified areas. A hydrogen-based supply system is designed and assembled with the purpose of having...

The energy storage is one of the most discussed topics among Electrical Vehicles (EVs) research. Currently, supercapacitors (SCs) are collecting even more attention due to their unique features such as high power density, high life cycle and lack of maintenance. In this paper, a brief review of supercapacitor mode suitable for the simulation in aut...

The aim of this paper is the low-cost experimental implementation of a field oriented control strategy for a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) by using an Atmel SAM3X8E microcontroller, mounted on an Arduino DUE board. In this electrical drive for PMSM, a resolver is used in order to measure the rotor position and speed: therefore, the low-...

Low frequency modulation strategies are a good solution to increase the energy conversion efficiency in high power applications. The paper is devoted to presents an innovative way to low order harmonics mitigation for seven-level Cascaded H-Bridge Inverters. In particular, this approach is based on the mitigation of selected harmonics without solve...

The smartgrid is a key technology for the sustainable and smart utilization of the renewable energies. In this paper, a prototyping of a microgrid, assembled at the Sustainable Development and Energy Saving Laboratory (SDESLAB) of the University of Palermo, is presented and discussed. In detail, the microgrid presents only one mechanical point of c...

In a previous paper, we proposed a control strategy for interior permanent synchronous motors, which takes into account also the reduction of the motor power losses. The novelty of the suggested approach is that it takes into consideration the variations of all the motor parameters that have an influence on its efficiency. In order to verifyon the...

The paper provides the results of a detailed experimental study on the variations of the characteristics of an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor, when load, speed and/or magnetization conditions vary. In particular, the characterization is carried out by assessing, for several working conditions, the motor parameters that influence its ef...

The paper deals with a diagnosis technique to detect and monitor incipient faults in the rotor bars of squirrel gage induction motors. The failure mode analysis is performed monitoring the motor axial vibrations. To accomplish the task, the authors present a mathematical model that allows relating the occurrence and the severity of the faults to th...

The continuous development in the field of industrial automation and electric mobility has led to the need for more efficient electrical machines with a high power density. The improvement of electrical machines’ slot filling factors is one of the measures to satisfy these requirements. In recent years, this topic has aroused greater interest in th...