Power converter operation using a model predictive controller

A method of controlling and modulating a converter connected to an electrical system, the converter comprising controllable switches to form discrete output voltages, wherein the method comprises:

• forming, with a controller of the converter, a mathematical representation of the electrical system comprising the converter,
• receiving, with the controller, reference values for controlled variables,
• calculating, with the controller, gradients of controlled variables based on the mathematical representation of the electrical system,
• determining, with the controller, possible switching sequences in a modulation period, a switching sequence defining an order in which the controllable switches are switched,
• for each possible switching sequence, minimizing, with the controller, an error between the provided references and the corresponding controlled variables based on the calculated gradients by optimizing switching time instants of the switching sequence,
• selecting, with the controller, the switching sequence with a smallest error, and
• applying, with the controller, the switching sequence with corresponding switching times in the modulation period to modulate the controllable switches.