A New Integrated Multilevel Inverter Topology for Renewable Energy Transformation

Abstract

This paper presents a new three-phase integrated module multilevel inverter (IMMLI) with reduced component count which is suitable for low, medium and high voltage renewable energy systems. The proposed inverter is a resultant structure of a number of integrated module and each module is configured with a number of series connected basic blocks. Each block consists of a dc voltage source, a blocking diode and a semiconductor switch. A computational combination and summation among the dc sources from different blocks results in a high number of levels within the output voltage. This task is performed by controlling the switches equipping appropriate switching algorithm. Thus, a high level of output is obtained employing reduced number of components. Since the topology owns two degree of modularity, the total stress voltage (TSV) of the system is low and distributed among the switches. Hence, the proposed topology allows to be implemented in high power systems with reduced amount of costs. The inverter also offers enhanced efficiency, as the number of simultaneously conducting switch is low. Additionally, in order to operate the presented inverter with optimum ac power quality, a multi-carrier based level shifted PWM scheme is addressed in this paper. This paper also shows how to prepare balanced dc sources that are required to implement the inverter using high-frequency magnetic-link. The operating principle of the IMMLI is explained with the help of a fifteen level (15-L) single phase unit and its performance is evaluated in MATLAB/Simulink considering different conditions. Experimental validation is also presented to support the simulation results and to evaluate its superiority over the existing.