Hybrid Three-Phase Transformer-Based Multilevel Inverter With Reduced Component Count
The topology of the static synchronous compensator of reactive power for a low-voltage three-phase utility grid capable of asymmetric reactive power compensation in grid phases has been proposed and analysed. It is implemented using separate, independent cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverters for each phase. Every inverter includes two H-bridge cascades. The first cascade operating at grid frequency is implemented using thyristors, and the second one—operating at high frequency is based on the high-speed MOSFET transistors. The investigation shows that the proposed compensator is able to compensate the reactive power in a low-voltage three-phase grid when phases are loaded by highly asymmet…
Voltage Source Multilevel Inverters With Reduced Device Count: Topological Review and Novel Comparative Factors
Multilevel inverters (MLIs) have gained increasing interest for advanced energy-conversion systems due to their features of high-quality produced waveforms, modularity, transformerless operation, voltage, and current scalability, and fault-tolerant operation. However, these merits usually come with the cost of a high number of components. Over the past few years, proposing new MLIs with a lower component count has been one of the most active topics in power electronics. The first aim of this article is to update and summarize the recently developed multilevel topologies with a reduced component count, based on their advantages, disadvantages, construction, and specific applications. Within …
Novel Isolated Multiple-Input Buck-Boost DC-DC Converter for Renewable Energy Sources
An isolated multiple input dc-dc converter (MIC) with unidirectional buck-boost characteristics and simultaneous power transfer is proposed for multi-sources in renewable energy systems in this paper. When compared to existing isolated MICs, the proposed MIC significantly reduces the component count and control complexity since it requires a fixed coupled inductor with only one primary and secondary winding each for any number of inputs and does not require any phase-shifted pulse-width modulation. The operation of the proposed converter for simultaneous power transfer from multiple sources with varying voltages is numerically verified in simulation and validated on OPAL-RT’s OP5700 hardwar…
Novel Three-Phase Multi-Level Inverter with Reduced Components
A new multilevel converter topology is proposed in this paper. Low component count and compact design are the main features of the proposed topology. Furthermore, the proposed converter is a capacitor-, inductor-, and diode-free configuration, allowing reducing the converter footprint, increasing the lifetime and simplifying the control strategy. Further, a comparative study is carried out to highlight the merits of the proposed circuit as compared to existing multilevel topologies. Finally, simulation results for the three-level version using different modulation strategies are presented.
New Multilevel Inverter Topology with Reduced Component Count
This paper introduces a new topology of modular multilevel inverters, being suitable in medium and high voltage applications. As compared to the existing circuits, the proposed topology has advantages of high ‘levels/components’ ratio, increasing the output voltage levels without increasing the voltage stress across the used switches, structure simplicity, isolation features, and modularity. These merits allow it to fit well in high-reliability medium-power applications, which require fast troubleshooting and maintenance flexibility. Operating principles of the proposed scheme are detailed in low frequency and pulse width modulation. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiv…
Four-Level Three-Phase Inverter With Reduced Component Count for Low and Medium Voltage Applications
This paper proposes a novel three-phase topology with a reduced component count for low- and medium-voltage systems. It requires three bidirectional switches and twelve unidirectional switches for producing four-level voltages without using flying capacitors or clamping diodes, reducing the size, cost, and losses. Removing flying capacitors and clamping diodes allows it to simplify control algorithms and increase the reliability, efficiency, and lifetime. A modified low-frequency modulation (LFM) scheme is developed and implemented on the proposed topology to produce a staircase voltage with four steps. Further, a level-shifted pulse width modulation (LSPWM) is used to reduce the filter siz…
Novel Three-Phase Multilevel Inverter With Reduced Components for Low- and High-Voltage Applications
In this article, a novel multilevel topology for three-phase applications, having three-level and hybrid N -level modular configurations, enabling low-, medium-, and high-voltage operations, is presented. The proposed topology has several attractive features, namely reduced component count, being capacitor-, inductor-, and diode-free, lowering cost, control-complexity, and size, and can operate in a wide range of voltages and powers. Selected simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the performance of the proposed topology. Further, the overall efficiency of the topology and loss distribution in switches are studied. Finally, the key features of the proposed topology in t…