Simulation-based comparison of ADRC, PI, and PID controllers on a SEPIC converter: performance and complexity
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Introduction: SEPIC converters are widely used in power electronics due to their ability to either step up or step down voltage levels. However, their nonlinear behavior and the presence of a right-half-plane zero make it difficult to design fast and stable controllers. This study analyzes the performance of three control strategies applied to a SEPIC converter: Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC), Proportional–Integral (PI), and Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID).
Objectives: to compare the reference tracking capability, disturbance rejection, and implementation complexity of ADRC, PI, and PID controllers applied to a SEPIC DC-DC converter.
Materials and Methods: simulations were conducted in MATLAB/Simulink by introducing perturbations in both the power source and the output voltage. The performance indices IAE, ITAE, ISE, and ITSE were computed to quantify accuracy, speed, and robustness. The influence of ADRC tuning parameters, such as observer bandwidth and tracking differentiator speed, was also analyzed.
Results: the ADRC controller exhibited the fastest response and best disturbance rejection, although it showed inherent oscillations and higher design complexity. The PI controller achieved a good balance between simplicity and performance, while the PID controller displayed the slowest response but smoother behavior under disturbances.
Conclusions: ADRC is suitable for applications requiring fast and robust control performance. However, PI and PID controllers remain valid alternatives when simplicity or smoother control signals are prioritized.
- SEPIC converter
- ADRC
- PI
- PID
- Disturbance rejection
- Non-minimum phase systems
- Voltage control
- Power system control
- Simulation
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