Design and Implementation of a Novel Multilevel DC–AC Inverter

Abstract

In this paper, a novel multilevel inverter for nine level application is proposed. The proposed multilevel inverter generates level ac output voltage with the appropriate gate signals' design. Also, the low-pass filter is used to reduce the total harmonic distortion of the sinusoidal output voltage. The switching losses and the voltage stress of power devices can be reduced in the proposed multilevel inverter. Multilevel inverter (MLI) plays a vital role in the field of power electronics and being widely used in many industrial and commercial applications. Moreover the advantages like high quality power output, low switching losses, low electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and high output voltage made multilevel inverter as a powerful solution converter topology. The multilevel inverter topology is the proper option from the point of view of modularity and simplicity of control. Main disadvantage of multilevel configuration is increase in number of power semiconductor switches and its complexity to design gate driver circuit individually, its cost and switching losses. Complexity of the induction motor system reduces reliability of the inverter. In this project, it is proposed to employ a new technique to obtain a multilevel output using less number of power semiconductor switches when compared to ordinary multilevel inverter, Voltage source converters are also required for various industrial applications, smart induction motor drive applications etc. Due to high power requirement in these applications, using one power semiconductor switch directly is not advisable. For high power and medium voltage applications multilevel converters are introduced.