• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.811-818
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• 2011

Modulation strategies for multilevel inverters have typically focused on synthesizing a desired set of sinusoidal voltage waveforms using a fixed number of dc voltage sources. This makes the average power drawn from different dc voltage sources unequal and time varying. Therefore, the dc voltage sources are unregulated and require that corrective control action be incorporated. In this paper, first two new selections are proposed for determining the dc voltage sources values for asymmetric cascaded multilevel inverters. Then two modulation strategies are proposed for the dc power balancing of these types of multilevel inverters. Using the charge balance control methods, the power drawn from all of the dc sources are balanced except for the dc source used in the first H-bridge. The proposed control methods are validated by simulation and experimental results on a single-phase 21-level inverter.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.418-431
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• 2018

This paper presents a new asymmetrical multilevel inverter with a reduced number of power electronic components. The proposed multilevel inverter is analyzed using two different configurations: i) First Configuration (with a switched diode) and ii) Second Configuration (without a switched diode). The presented topologies are compared with recent multilevel inverter topologies in terms of number of switches, gate driver circuits and blocking voltages. The proposed topologies can be cascaded to generate the maximum number of output voltage levels and they are suitable for high voltage applications. Various power quality issues are addressed for both of the configurations. The proposed 11-level inverter configuration is simulated using MATLAB and it is validated with a laboratory based experimental setup.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.316-325
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• 2013

Multilevel inverters produce a staircase output voltage from DC voltage sources. Requiring great number of semiconductor switches is main disadvantage of multilevel inverters. The multilevel inverters can be divided in two groups: symmetric and asymmetric converters. The asymmetric multilevel inverters provide a large number of output steps without increasing the number of DC voltage sources and components. In this paper, a novel topology for multilevel converters is proposed using cascaded sub-multilevel Cells. This sub-multilevel converters can produce five levels of voltage. Four algorithms for determining the DC voltage sources magnitudes have been presented. Finally, in order to verify the theoretical issues, simulation is presented.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2272-2283
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• 2016

This paper proposes a power conditioning system (PCS) for distributed photovoltaic (PV) applications using an asymmetric cascaded multilevel inverter with a single PV source. One of the main disadvantages of the cascaded multilevel inverters in PV systems is the requirement of multiple isolated DC sources. Using multiple PV strings leads to a compromise in either the voltage balance of individual H-bridge cells or the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) operation due to localized variations in atmospheric conditions. The proposed PCS uses a single PV source with a flyback DC-DC converter to facilitate a reduction of the required DC sources and to maintain the voltage balance during MPPT operation. The flyback converter is used to provide input for low-voltage H-bridge cells which processes only 20% of the total power. This helps to minimize the losses occurring in the proposed PCS. Furthermore, transient analyses and controller design for the proposed PCS in both the stand-alone mode and the grid-connection mode are presented. The feasibility of the proposed PCS and its control scheme have been tested using a 1kW hardware prototype and the obtained results are presented.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1328-1336
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• 2013

Nowadays multilevel inverters are developing generally due to reduced voltage stress on power switches and low total harmonic distortion (THD) in output voltage. However, for increasing the output voltage levels the number of circuit devices are increased and it results in increasing the cost of converter. In this paper, a novel multilevel inverter is proposed. The suggested topology uses less number of power switches and related gate drive circuits to generate the same level in output voltage with comparison to traditional cascaded multilevel inverter. With the proposed topology all levels in output voltage can be realized. As an illustration, a symmetric 13-level and asymmetric 29-level proposed inverters have been simulated and implemented. The total peak inverse (PIV) and power losses of presented inverter are calculated and compared with conventional cascaded multilevel inverter. The presented analyses show that the power losses in the suggested multilevel inverter are less than the traditional inverters. Presented simulation and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of the proposed inverter to obtain the maximum number of levels with less number of switches.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.538-545
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• 2012

In this paper a novel cascaded transformer multilevel inverter is proposed. Each basic unit of the inverter includes two DC sources, single phase transformers and semiconductor switches. This inverter, which operates as symmetric and asymmetric, can output more number of voltage levels in the same number of the switching devices. Besides, the number of gate driving circuits is reduced, which leads to circuit size reduction and lower power consumption in the driving circuits. Moreover, several methods to determination of transformers turn ratio in proposed inverter are presented. Theoretical analysis, simulation results using MATLAB/SIMULINK and experimental results are provided to verify the operation of the suggested inverter.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1074-1086
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• 2019

This paper presents the design and implementation of an improved cascaded multilevel inverter topology with asymmetric DC sources. This experimental inverter topology is a stand-alone system with simulations and experiments performed using resistance loads. The topology uses four asymmetric binary DC sources that are independent from each other and one H-bridge. The topology was simulated using PSIM software before an actual prototype circuit was tested. The proposed topology was shown to be very efficient. It was able to generate a smooth output waveform up to 31 levels with only eight switches. The obtained simulation and experimental results are almost identical. In a 1,200W ($48.3{\Omega}$) resistive load application, the THDv and efficiency of the topology were found to be 1.7% and 97%, respectively. In inductive load applications, the THDv values were 1.1% and 1.3% for an inductive load ($R=54{\Omega}$ dan L=146mH) and a 36W fluorescent lamp load with a capacitor connected at the dc bus.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2017

This paper deals with the design and implementation of an efficient topology for cascaded multilevel inverters with reduced part counts. In the proposed design, a well-established basic unit is first developed. The series extension of this unit results in the formation of the proposed multilevel inverter. The proposed design minimizes the number of power electronic components including insulated-gate bipolar transistors and gate driver circuits, which in turn cuts down the size of the inverter assembly and reduces the operating power losses. An explicit control strategy with enhanced device efficiency is also acquired. Thus, the part count reductions enhance not only the economical merits but also the technical features of the entire system. In order to accomplish the desired operational aspects, three algorithms are considered to determine the magnitudes of the dc voltage sources effectively. The proposed topology is compared with the conventional cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter topology, to reflect the merits of the presented structure. In continue, both the analytical and experimental results of a cascaded 31-level structure are analyzed. The obtained results are discussed in depth, and the exemplary performance of the proposed structure is corroborated.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.1078-1085
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• 2013

This paper presents a novel topology for cascaded transformer sub-multilevel converter. Eachsub-multilevel converter consists of two DC voltage sources with six switches to achieve five-level voltage. The proposed topology results in reduction of DC voltage sources and switches number. Single phase low frequency transformers are used in proposed topology and voltage transformation and galvanic isolation between load and sources are given by transformers. This topology can operate as symmetric or asymmetric converter but in this paper we have focused on symmetric state. The operation and performance of the suggested multilevel converter has been verified by the simulation results of a single-phase nine-level multilevel converter using MATLAB/SIMULINK.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1051-1066
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• 2018

This study presents a novel step-up switched capacitor multilevel inverter (SCMLI) structure. The proposed structure comprises 2 unequal DC voltage sources, 4 capacitors, and 14 unidirectional power switches. It can synthesize 21 output voltage levels. The important features of the proposed topology are its self-voltage boosting and inherent capacitor voltage balancing capabilities. Furthermore, a cascaded structure of the proposed SCMLI with an asymmetric DC voltage source configuration is presented. The proposed topology and its cascaded structure are compared with conventional and other recently developed topologies in terms of different aspects, such as the required components to produce a specific number of output voltage levels, the total standing voltage (TSV) and peak inverse voltage of the structure, and the maximum number of switches in the conducting path. Furthermore, a cost function is developed to verify the cost-effectiveness of the proposed topology with respect to other topologies. The TSV of the proposed topology is significantly lower than those of other topologies. Moreover, the developed topology is cost-effective compared with other topologies. A detailed operating principle, power loss analysis, and selection procedure for switched capacitors are presented for the proposed SCMLI structure. Extensive simulation and experimental studies of a 21-level inverter structure prove the effectiveness and merits of the proposed SCMLI.