A Hybrid Switched Capacitor Multi-Level Inverter with High Voltage Gain and Self-Voltage Balancing Ability

Abstract

Abstract—A hybrid switched capacitor multi-level inverter topology is proposed in this paper. The topology has a basic unit and an extendable “n” module. The number of levels synthesized and the voltage gain delivered is based on number of such “n” modules connected in series. For “k” number of “n” modules, 4k + 9 levels can be obtained in the terminal voltage with a voltage boost of 1:(k + 2). Also, the topology has self-balancing ability which is mathematically validated. A 13-level prototype of hybrid switched capacitor multi-level inverter (HSC-MLI) is developed and its performance is analyzed in simulation and experimental environments. The HSC-MLI is compared with recent switched capacitor multi-level inverter topologies in the aspects like number of capacitors, number of diodes, number of drivers, number of levels synthesized and voltage gain and the results are presented. The simulations are done in MATLAB environment and the experimental prototype is fabricated using IGBTs 1HW15N120E1.

Keywords:

• inverter
• switched capacitor
• hybrid multi-level inverter
• level shifted PWM
• voltage balance
• voltage stress
• current stress
• switching frequency
• voltage boost
• flying capacitor

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Prem Ponnusamy

Prem Ponnusamy received the B.E and M.E degrees from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai in 2006 and 2008, respectively. From then he was working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering of Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam. He received the PhD degree from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Anna University in 2018. Currently He is currently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Bannari Amman Institute of Technology. His research interests are power systems and power converters for renewable energy systems.

Suresh Velliangiri

Suresh Velliangiri received the B.E and M.E degrees from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai in 2008 and 2011, respectively. From then he was working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering of Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam. His research interests are multi-level power converters and electric vehicles.

Jagabar Sathik Mohamed Ali

Jagabar Sathik Mohamed Ali was born in Madukkur, India, in 1979. He received the B.E. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Madurai Kamarajar University, Madurai, India, in 2002, and the M.E. and PhD degrees from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, India, in 2004 and 2016, respectively. He is currently working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur campus. India and also, he is a postdoc fellow with the Renewable Energy Lab, College of Engineering, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is consultant of various power electronics companies for the design of power electronics converters. He has authored more than 40 articles publications in international journals, conference proceedings and two published patents. He is the recipient of Research Excellence Award-2017 from Indus Foundation Hyderabad and certificate of recognition for second highest number of papers published in the year of 2018–2019 under IEEE-Madras Section. He is the guest editor for Special Issue on “Modelling, Methodologies and Control Techniques of DC/AC Power Conversion Topologies for Small- and Large-scale Photovoltaic Power Systems” IET Power Electronics. He is serving as a regular reviewer for several journals including IET Power Electronics. His current research interests include multi-level inverters, grid-connected inverters, and power electronics converters and its applications to renewable energy systems.