Real time implementation of space vector pulse width modulation for three level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter using Arduino DUE board

Abstract

In this paper, a real-time digital implementation of a space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) algorithm for three level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter is carried out using ARDUINO DUE development board with a theorical study under the MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. The main contribution in this work is that the present implementation was extrapolated from our previous work that implements the SVPWM algorithm for lower inverter level (two level inverter), and which was performed using the present development board. By mean of this, the computation time and the resources utilization of the processor are greatly reduced and, as the previous implementation, power losses and harmonics may be reduced by minimizing the number of switching sequences and by generating symmetrical signals, despite the increased complexity of the inverter. To validate the implemented algorithm, the switching signals generated by the Arduino DUE board were used to control an ideal three level NPC inverter modeled under Matlab/Simulink environment. The results obtained from the experimentation are closer to that of simulation, which confirms the validity of the implemented algorithm.