Design of LLCL Filter for Single Phase Inverters with Confined Band Variable Switching Frequency (CB-VSF) PWM

Recently, the use of LLCL filters for grid inverters has been suggested to give better harmonic attenuation than the commonly used L and LCL filters, particularly around the switching frequency. Nevertheless, this filter is mainly designed for constant switching frequency pulse width modulation (CSF PWM) methods. In variable switching frequency PWM (VSF PWM), the harmonic components are distributed across a wide frequency band which complicates the use of a high order filter, including LCL and LLCL filters. Recently, a confined band variable switching frequency (CB-VSF) PWM method has been proposed and demonstrated to be superior to the conventional constant switching frequency (CSF) PWM in terms of switching losses. However, the applicability of LLCL filters for this type of CB-VSF PWM has not been discussed. In this paper, the authors study the suitability of an LLCL filter for CB-VSF PWM and propose design guidelines for the filter parameters. Using simulation and experimental results, it is demonstrated that the effectiveness of an LLCL filter with CB-VSF PWM depends on the parameters of the filters as well as the designed variable frequency band of the PWM. Simulation results confirm the performance of the suggested LLCL design, which is further validated using a lab scale prototype.