A Novel 21-Level Asymmetric Multilevel Inverter with Reduced Switches for Solar PV Systems

Abstract

This article presents a 21-level cascaded asymmetric inverter with a reduced switch count. The system uses a solar photo voltaic (SPV) source and a battery as well. The topology of the proposed 21-level inverter needs 3 three power supplies with voltages in the ratio 1:2:7. The two lower voltage levels in the ratio V and 2 V are connected in series. In contrast, the third one, which is in the 7 V level, is isolated. The proposed idea uses a step modulation strategy. The step angles are selected strategically by fixing the switching angles at predetermined values. The proposed idea has been validated using simulations in MATLAB SIMULINK platform. An experimental prototype has also been developed to validate the proposed concept.

Keywords:

• multilevel inverter
• solar PV-based inverter
• isolated boost DC to DC converter
• maximum power point tracking
• sliding mode controller for MPPT

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The authors have no relevant financial or nonfinancial interests to disclose. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

FUNDING

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Not applicable.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Niraimathi Ramachandran

Niraimathi Ramachandran obtained her B.E. (Electronics & Electronics Engineering) from Madurai Kamaraj University in 2002 and M.E in Applied Electronics from Anna University in 2007 and Ph.D. from Anna University, Chennai. She is Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, at Mohamed Sathak Engineering College, Kilakarai, Tamil Nadu, India. She has been working in the teaching field for about 19 years. She has published 12 papers in the area of Power Electronics & Drives.

Seyezhai Ramalingam

Seyezhai Ramalingam Professor in Electrical & Electronics Engineering has 24 years of teaching and research experience including 17 years of research experience in Power Electronics and Renewable Energy Systems. She received her B.E. from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in 1996 and M.E in Power Electronics & Drives from Bharathidasan University in 1998 and Ph.D. from Anna University, Chennai. She has been actively involved in SSN-Institution’s Innovation Council (SSN-IIC), SSN Innovation Centre, NBA, and ARIIA ranking in the institution and Curriculum framing for PG and PG NBA at the department level. She has successfully completed the Innovation Ambassador training conducted by MoE’s Innovation Cell & AICTE during 2021. She has published over 300 research publications in referred International Journals and 200 in International and National Conferences. She received around 30 best paper awards in various international conferences. She has authored two books on, Solid State DC and AC Drives and Power Electronics for Renewable Energy Systems with Scitech Publications. She has successfully graduated 12 Ph.D. students and currently guiding five research scholars.

Praveen Kumar Balachandran

Praveen Kumar Balachandran (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.E. degree in electrical and electronics engineering and the M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in power systems engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India, in 2014, 2016, and 2019, respectively. He is currently working as an Associate Professor with the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Vardhaman College of Engineering, Hyderabad, India. He has published various research papers in reputed journals. He has filed ten patents and he has ten book chapters in his credential. He is also an Active Member of IEEE Power and Energy Society and in five more professional bodies. He is acting as a guest editor, academic editor for the journals from Elsevier, Frontiers, MDPI, Wiley, Hindawi, and River publishers. His current research interests include solar photovoltaics, IoT, Image processing, smart grid, solar still, and renewable energy systems.

Tomonobu Senjyu

Tomonobu Senjyu (Fellow, IEEE) received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of the Ryukyus, in 1986 and 1988, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Nagoya University, in 1994. Since 1988, he has been with the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, where he is currently a Professor. His current research interests include power system optimization and operation, advanced control, renewable energy, the IoT for energy management, ZEH/ZEB, smart city, and power electronics. He is an IEEJ Fellow and an AAIA Fellow.