Improved configuration for symmetric and asymmetric multilevel inverters with reduced number of circuit devices

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this paper, a topology developed for multilevel voltage source inverters is proposed. The suggested modular configuration consists of several series-connected units, which can be applied as symmetric and asymmetric inverters. In the asymmetric mode, different solutions are suggested to generate an increased number of output voltage levels. In multilevel inverters, the number of required circuit elements determines the total cost, circuit size, installation area, complexity of control scheme and reliability of the inverters. The comparison study among the proposed inverter by considering all the presented algorithms for it, cascaded H-bridge (CHB) inverter and recently proposed converters, confirms that the proposed inverter uses a reduced number of circuit elements. In order to show the practicability of the proposed converter, a prototype of the proposed structure is implemented and tested. The simulation and experimental results are in good agreement with each other, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed inverter.