A novel multilevel inverter topology with reduced number of component count and total standing voltage for renewable energy conversion system

Abstract

In this paper, a new Multi-Level Inverter is proposed for a renewable energy conversion system. It uses two asymmetrical DC sources in the ratio of 1:3. The Proposed topology generates N levels using N-16 DC sources, N+32 switches, and a self-balanced capacitor. In comparison to the existing topologies which use DC sources in the same ratio of 1:3, the proposed topology generates higher voltage levels with a reduced number of DC sources, switches, and minimum Total Standing Voltage (TSV). Further, the advantage of the proposed topology is that the voltage stress on each switch is less than or equal to the DC source voltage, which is not the case with existing topologies. The loss distribution at each switch is also found using PSIM software. This loss is around 10–15% of the total power losses in the converter. It shows an equal sharing of losses in each device. The proposed topology is simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK. A Phase Disposition Level Shift PWM (PD-LSPWM) technique is used by considering the carrier frequency equal to the fundamental frequency (50 Hz). The experimental results are verified with a prototype model using dSPACE 1104 in the laboratory.