Split-source Inverter Research Articles

Three-Phase Split-Source Inverter-Fed PV Systems: Analysis and Mitigation of Common-Mode Voltage

Common-mode voltage (CMV), caused by standard high-frequency pulsewidth modulated (PWM) voltage source inverters (VSIs), is a major area of interest in various applications, such as electric motor drives, transformerless photovoltaic systems, and grid-tied inverters. Since VSIs have only the buck capability during the inversion mode, an additional boosting stage either in the dc side or in the ac side has to be utilized for low-voltage-fed applications. On the other hand, single-stage solutions, with buck and boost capabilities, represent an interesting alternative with reduced cost, complexity, and converter volume. Among the possible single-stage solutions, split-source inverter (SSI), which has been recently proposed, has several merits over its counterparts. One of the questionable aspects concerning this topology is the CMV, which has not been investigated yet. This article examines the induced CMV with the SSI. This is done by examining the CMV waveforms for VSI and SSI topologies, and then, comparing each other under different PWM schemes. Furthermore, this article proposes the use of the discontinuous space vector PWM scheme with the SSI to mitigate the CMV, where the analysis shows a significant reduction in the CMV compared to the other schemes. In order to validate the introduced analysis, simulation model has been designed using MATLAB/Simulink environment, and simulation results are presented. Moreover, a prototype has been built-up for testing the proposed concepts and the obtained experimental results are provided.

Design and Implementation of Modified Split Source Inverter with Quasi Sinusoidal PWM Technique for Stand-Alone System

Design and Implementation of Modified Split Source Inverter with Quasi Sinusoidal PWM Technique for Stand-Alone System

Multi-Input Ćuk-Derived Buck-Boost Voltage Source Inverter for Photovoltaic Systems in Microgrid Applications

This paper presents a multi-input Ćuk-derived Buck-Boost voltage source inverter (CBBVSI) for Photovoltaic (PV) systems. The proposed topology consists of a single-stage DC-AC inverter that combines both DC-DC and DC-AC stages. The DC-DC stage is used for stepping-up the voltage from the PV generator. Simultaneously, the DC-AC stage is used for interfacing the PV source with the AC grid. The topology allows three sources to utilize the antiparallel diodes for each inverter leg for transferring the energy. The proposed system exhibits several features such as a reduction of the number of components compared to typical two-stage structures, and Split-Source Inverter (SSI), and Z-Source Inverter (ZSI) topologies. Moreover, the power of each PV source can be harvested either simultaneously or separately since independent Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is performed. The system was simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK software and a 1 kW laboratory prototype was implemented to verify the operation of the proposed CBBVSI. The numerical simulations are presented together with the experimental results, showing a good agreement.

A Family of Single-Stage High-Gain Dual-Buck Split-Source Inverters

In this paper, a family of single-phase single-stage high-gain dual-buck split-source inverters (SSIs) is proposed. The proposed inverters have the combine benefits of SSI, dual-buck inverter (DBI), and high-gain dc–dc converters. Similar to the DBI, they provide high reliability by eliminating shoot-through issues, increase switching frequency and efficiency by using power MOSFETs without leading the body diodes to reverse recovery issues, and decrease pulsewidth modulation (PWM) dead-time. In addition, voltage boost operation is achieved in a single stage without using any additional active switch, which is in favor of lower control complexity and lower cost. On the other hand similar to the SSI, buck–boost dc–ac power conversion is realized in a single stage. However, compared to the SSI, the proposed inverters have no shoot-through issues, MOSFETs can be used without reverse recovery issues, dead-time can be minimized, switching frequencies can be increased, and external fast recovery diodes can be used to improve efficiency. In addition, four different high-gain dual-buck SSIs are presented. As an example, the proposed switched-coupled-inductor split-source DBI is analyzed and compared with the other proposed structures. To validate the theoretical analysis, a 300-W experimental prototype is designed and tested at 25–35-V input voltage, $155~V_{\text {peak}}$ output voltages and 50 kHz.

Performance Evaluation of the Single-Phase Split-Source Inverter Using an Alternative DC–AC Configuration

This paper investigates and evaluates the performance of a single-phase split-source inverter (SSI), where an alternative unidirectional dc–ac configuration is used. Such configuration is utilized in order to use two common-cathode diodes in a single device instead of using two separate diodes, resulting in minimum parasitic inductance in the commutation paths. In this paper, the analysis and modulation of the single-phase SSI using this alternative configuration is discussed, and the analysis of the low-frequency component in the dc side is introduced. Moreover, the features behind employing the triangular, the trailing-edge sawtooth, and the leading-edge sawtooth carriers with the single-phase SSI are discussed, and the differences among these carriers are highlighted. In order to highlight the performance of the proposed SSI, a comparative study is conducted with the two-stage architecture and the single-phase quasi-Z-source inverter (qZSI). The introduced analysis is enhanced with simulation results using MATLAB/PLECS models, where a 1-kVA single-phase SSI is designed and simulated. Finally, the designed 1-kVA single-phase SSI is implemented experimentally and tested at different operating points, i.e., at different voltage gains, and a maximum efficiency of $95.5\%$ is obtained.

Decoupled Control Scheme of Grid-Connected Split-Source Inverters

Grid-connected power conversion systems for renewable energy sources must fulfill several requirements, e.g., the high efficiency, the reduced cost and complexity, and, quite often, the boost capabilities that is usually achieved using a front-end dc–dc boost converter before the inversion stage, leading to a two-stage architecture. Meanwhile, single-stage power conversion systems, which perform the boosting operation within the inversion one, offer some potential advantages, in terms of reducing the complexity and the volume of the whole system. Among several proposed options, the split-source inverter (SSI) has been recently proposed by Abdelhakim et al. as an alternative option with some interesting features to the commonly used Z-source inverter. Taking into account that the SSI is controlled by a single parameter, i.e., its dc and ac sides are controlled by the modulation index, it is of paramount importance to investigate its control scheme in grid-connected mode, which has never been studied yet. Hence, this paper models the SSI dc side and proposes a modified modulation scheme combined with the commonly used synchronous reference frame control technique to achieve a decoupled control scheme of the SSI in grid-connected mode, i.e., the dc and the ac sides of the SSI can be controlled independently, which is convenient for many applications. The introduced control scheme is analyzed and simulated using a MATLAB/Simulink model, where a reduced scale 1-kVA grid-connected SSI is designed and simulated for the sake of experimental validation. Finally, the designed system is implemented experimentally to validate and verify the reported analysis and simulations.

Three-Phase Three-Level Flying Capacitors Split-Source Inverters: Analysis and Modulation

Single-stage dc–ac power converters with boost capabilities offer an interesting alternative compared to two-stage architecture. One of the recently proposed single-stage dc–ac power converters is the split-source inverter (SSI). This paper extends the SSI topology from the two-level operation to the three-level one using the flying capacitors (FCs) configuration. Among the diode-clamped SSI (DC-SSI) and FC-SSI, the second one is proposed in order to avoid the need of two isolated dc sources. This paper shows that the FC-SSI provides additional merits compared to the two-level SSI in terms of input inductance requirements using the same switching frequency, voltage stresses across the active switches, and total harmonic distortion of the output voltage. Such results are obtained by discussing the analysis and the modulation of this topology, considering some simulation results, and comparing it to some other existing topologies to show its properties and limitations. Finally, a reduced-scale 1.5-kVA three-level FC-SSI is implemented experimentally to validate its functionality and verify the proposed analysis and modulation properties.

Improved Single-Phase Split-Source Inverter With Hybrid Quasi-Sinusoidal and Constant PWM

A single-stage topology of a three-phase boost inverter known as split-source inverter (SSI) has recently been introduced in the literature. This topology suffers from high frequency current commutations across two diodes and complicated analysis since the inductor is charged with variable duty cycle. This paper presents a single-phase version of SSI with improvements in inverter topology as well as the pulse width modulation (PWM) technique. An inductor is connected to two MOSFETs operating at fundamental frequency to boost the voltage from input source to dc-link voltage. In the proposed hybrid quasi-sinusoidal and constant PWM, one of the full-bridge legs undergoes constant duty cycle switching while the other one undergoes sinusoidally varying duty cycle switching, with the former is accountable for charging and discharging of inductor while the latter is accountable for producing ac output. Therefore, the proposed topology with hybrid quasi-sinusoidal and constant PWM exhibits the merit of simplicity since the control of dc-link voltage and ac output is detached within the single-stage topology. It is not liable to the undesired high frequency current commutation. In addition, a wide range of ac output voltage is achievable in either buck or boost operation. Theoretical analysis is presented and verified through simulation and experimental results.

Three-Phase Split-Source Inverter (SSI): Analysis and Modulation

In several electrical dc–ac power conversions, the ac output voltage is higher than the input voltage. If a voltage-source inverter (VSI) is used, then an additional dc–dc boosting stage is required to overcome the step-down VSI limitations. Recently, several impedance source converters are gaining higher attentions [1] , [2] , as they are able to provide buck-boost capability in a single conversion stage. This paper proposes the merging of the boost stage and the VSI stage in a single stage dc–ac power conversion, denoted as split-source inverter (SSI). The proposed topology requires the same number of active switches of the VSI, three additional diodes, and the same eight states of a conventional space-vector modulation. It also shows some merits compared to Z-source inverters, especially in terms of reduced switch voltage stress for voltage gains higher than 1.15. This paper presents the analysis of the SSI and compares different modulation schemes. Moreover, it presents a modified modulation scheme to eliminate the low frequency ripple in the input current and the voltage across the inverter bridge. The proposed analysis has been verified by simulation and experimental results on a 2.0-kW prototype.