Designing, Modelling and Simulation of Multilevel

Power Inverter
PRESENTED BY :

Mr. Punit L. Ratnani

GUIDED BY :

Dr. A. G. Thosar

Second Year M. E. (Electrical Machine & Drives)

Government College of Engineering, Aurangabad

MAHARSHTRA.

 Objectives

Organizatio
n

Background
Necessity
Classification
Multilevel Inverter Structure
Modelling of Diode Clamped Multilevel Inverter
Modelling of Cascaded Multilevel Inverter
PWM Control Techniques
Switching Function analysis of Multilevel Inverter
Performance Analysis
Conclusion
References

Objectives
To study various multilevel power inverter configurations.
To study and simulate cascaded type of five level multilevel inverter configuration
in MATLAB/Simulink.
To study and simulate diode clamped type of five level multilevel inverter
configuration in MATLAB/Simulink.
Comparison between cascaded and diode clamped multilevel inverter.
To study different switching techniques, simulate APOD and POD techniques in
MATLAB/Simulink.
To study generalized functional simulation for five level inverter using switching
function concept.
To study the effect of change in total harmonic distortion (T.H.D.) of output
voltage with respect to variation in the modulation index (M.I.)
To demonstrate the switching pulses generation using dSPACE 1104 controller.

Backgroun
d

Multilevel inverters have been under research and development for more
than three decades and have found successful industrial applications.
Multilevel inverters have been attracting increasing interest recently the
main reasons are
Increased power ratings,
Improved harmonic performance,
Reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI) emission
In particular multilevel inverters have abundant demand in applications
such as medium voltage industrial drives, electric vehicles, and grid
connected photovoltaic systems.

Necessity of Multilevel Inverter Technology

Multilevel inverter includes an array of power semiconductor devices and
capacitors voltage sources, the output of which generates voltages with
stepped waveforms.

Multilevel inverter is based on the fact that sine wave can be approximated
to a stepped waveform having large number of steps.

The unique structure of multilevel inverter allows them to reach high

voltages and therefore lower voltage rating device can be used.

Medium and High Power

Inverters

There are different power converter topologies and control strategies used in
inverter designs.
They are potentially useful for a wide range of applications like,
Low power devices,
Home appliances,
Electric vehicles,
Photovoltaic,
Transport (train traction,
applications),
Energy conversion,
Manufacturing, mining,
Petrochemical applications.

ship

propulsion,

and

automotive

Summary of Power
Inverter

Challenging Aspects in Medium and High

Power Inverters

The current energy arena is changing. The feeling of dependence on fossil

fuels and the progressive increase of its cost is leading to the investment of
huge amounts in recourses.
The power electronics research community and industry have reacted to this
demand in two different ways:
Developing semiconductor technology to reach higher nominal voltages
and currents (currently 8 kV and 6 kA) while maintaining traditional
converter topologies (mainly two-level voltage and current source
inverters)
By developing new converter topologies, with traditional semiconductor
technology, known as multilevel inverters.

Classification of High Power Inverter

High Power
Converter

Direct
Conversion
(AC/AC)

Matrix
Converter

Indirect Conversion
(AC/DC/AC)

Cycloconverter

Voltage
Source

High Power
2-level VSI

Multilevel Matrix
Converter

Flying
capacitor

Stacked
Flying
capacitor

Current
Source

Multilevel
Inverter

NPC

PWM current
source Inverter

Cascaded

Load
Commutated
Inverter

Hybrid
Topologies

Converter Configuration
Two-Level Inverter

Solid State
Device
IGBT

Power Range

Manufacturer

1.4 MVA-7.2 MVA

Alstom
(VDM 5000)

(VSI)
NPC Inverter

GCT

(NPC VSI)

0.3 MVA

ABB (ACS 1000)

5 MVA

(ACS 6000)

3 MVA
27 MVA
3 MVA-20 MVA

General Electric

0.6 MVA-0.9 MVA

0.4 MVA-4.5 MVA
2.5 MVA- 18 MVA

(Innovation Series MV-SP)

Siemens (SIMVERT-MV)
GE-Toshiba (Dura-Bilt5 MV)
Toshiba

0.3 MVA-22MVA

(Tosvert S650 )
Robicon

0.5 MVA- 6 MVA

(Perfect harmony)
Toshiba

NPC H-Bridge

IGBT
IGBT

0.5 MVA- 6 MVA

6-26 MVA

(TOSVERT-MV)
General Electric Innovation MV-GP Type-H)
GE-Toshiba

Flying Capacitor

IGBT

0.3-8 MVA

Alstom

GCT
IGBT/IGCT
IGBT
GTO

Cascaded H-Bridge
Inverter (VSI)

Inverter

IGBT
IGBT

10

Multilevel Inverter Structure

(a)

(b)

(c)

A multilevel converter can switch either its input or output nodes (or both) between
multiple (more than two) levels of voltage or current.
Three different major multilevel inverter structures :
Cascaded H-bridges inverter with separate dc sources
Diode clamped
Flying capacitors.

11

Diode clamped Multilevel Inverter

Power circuit of Diode Clamped

Inverter

12

Switching Pattern of Diode clamped

Multilevel Inverter
Switch State

Voltage
1

Switching pattern of Diode Clamped Inverter

13

Three Level Diode clamped Multilevel

Inverter

14

Working Scheme of Three Level Diode clamped

Three Level Diode clamped Multilevel

Inverter
Advantages:
All of the phases share a common dc bus, which
minimizes the capacitance requirements of the
converter.
The capacitors can be pre-charged as a group.
Efficiency is high for fundamental frequency
switching.

Working Scheme of Three

Disadvantages:

Level Diode clamped

Real power flow is difficult for a single inverter

because the intermediate dc levels will tend to
overcharge or discharge without precise
monitoring and control.

Inverter
15

Cascaded Multilevel Inverter

16

Power circuit of cascaded multilevel

inverter

sic structure of Five Level Cascaded Multilevel Inverte

17

Power circuit of 5-level cascaded multilevel

inverter

sic structure of Five Level Cascaded Multilevel Inverte

18

Power circuit of 5-level cascaded multilevel

inverter

sic structure of Five Level Cascaded Multilevel Inverte

19

Power circuit of 5-level cascaded multilevel

inverter

Switching Pattern for Five Level Cascaded

Multilevel Inverter
Sr. no

Switches

Output

Upper bridge

Lower bridge

S1a and S2b

S3a and S4b

S1a and S2b

S3a and S3b

S2a and S2b

S4a and S4b

S1a and S1b

S3a and S3b

S1b and S2a

S3a and S3b

S1b and S2a

S3b and S4a

voltage

20

Comparison analysis
Diode

Sr. no

Topology

Power Semiconductor switches

Clamping diode per phase

DC bus capacitor

Balancing capacitor per phase

Voltage unbalancing

Average

Very small

Clamped

Cascaded

21

Control Techniques for Multilevel Inverter

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques for two level inverters have been
studied extensively during the past decades.
Many different PWM methods have been developed to achieve the following
aims;
Wide linear modulation range,
Reduced switching loss,
Lesser total harmonic distortion in the spectrum of switching waveform,
Easy implementation,
Less memory space and computation time on implementing in digital
processors
22

Control Techniques for Multilevel Inverter

Sinusoidal pulse width
modulation
Modulating signal

Carrier signal

Pure sinusoidal

Phase disposition

Third harmonic injection

Phase opposition
disposition

Dead band

Alternate POD
Hybrid
23

Phase shifted

Control Techniques for Multilevel Inverter

1. Alterative Phase Opposition
Disposition (APODPWM)
. This technique requires each of the (m 1)
carrier waveforms, for an m-level phase
waveform, to be phase displaced from each
other by 180 alternately.

24

Control Techniques for Multilevel Inverter

2. Phase Opposition Dispositions (POD)
The carrier waveforms are all in phase
above and below the zero reference value
however, there is 180 phase shift between
the ones above and below zero respectively

25

MATLAB based simulation of Cascaded Five Level Inverter

26

Switching Signal

27

28

Switching pulses of one

29

Line-to Line Voltages and Line-to-Line

currents

30

Phase-to-Phase Voltages and Phase-to-Phase

currents

ATLAB based simulation of Diode Clamped Five Level Inverter

31

32

Switching pulses of one

phase

33

Line-to Line Voltages and Line-to-Line

currents

34

Phase-to-Phase Voltages and Phase-to-Phase

currents

Switching Function analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Each phase has four switching functions such as

Using switching functions the Can be obtained as

35

Switching Function analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Then

inverter line-to line voltages can be derived as

36

Switching Function analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Phase-to-Phase currents generated by switching

function

37

Switching Function analysis of Multilevel Inverter

38

Logic of Separation of switch and diode currents

Switching Function analysis of Multilevel Inverter

39

(a) ,

(b)

(c) I_

Switching Function analysis of Multilevel Inverter

40

(a) I_ (c) I_

T.H.D. analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Voltage and Current THD for Cascaded Multilevel
Inverter for POD

45
40
35.31

35
30

36.63

38.76

29.74

25
21.47
20
15
10
5
2.47
0
1

2.49

2.52

2.54

2.58

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

Voltage THD %

Current THD %

41

T.H.D. analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Voltage and Current THD for Cascaded Multilevel
Inverter for APOD

35
30
25.22
25

27.85

28.3

29.3

2.49

2.5

2.51

2.52

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

25.37

20
15
10
5
2.47
0
1

Voltage THD %

Current THD %

42

T.H.D. analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Voltage and Current THD for Diode Clamped Multilevel
Inverter for APOD

80

75.03

70
60
50

67.31
53.58

57.57

40
37.66
30
20
10
3.26
0
1

4.91

10.98

8.33

0.9

0.8
Voltage THD %

0.7
Current THD %

13.65

0.6

43

T.H.D. analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Voltage and Current THD for Diode Clamped Multilevel
Inverter for APOD
80
70
60
50

53.08

62.74

57.7

67

40
36.72
30
20
10
3.2
0
1

9.08

9.6

10.99

11.19

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

Voltage THD %

Current THD %

44

T.H.D. analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Comparison of Cascade and Diode clamped inverter for APOD
80

75.03

70

67.31

60
50

57.87

53.58

40
36.66
30
25.22
20

25.37

27.85

28.3

29.3

0.8

0.7

0.6

10
0
1

0.9
Cascaded

Diode Clamed

45

T.H.D. analysis of Multilevel Inverter

Comparison of Cascade and Diode clamped inverter for POD
80

75.03

70
62.74

60
50

57

53.08

40
36.62
30

35.31

36.63

0.8

0.7

38.76

29.74

21.43
20
10
0
1

0.9
Cascaded

Diode Clamed

0.6

46

Implementation in Real-Time by using

dSPACE 1104

The DS1104 is specifically designed for the development of high-speed

multivariable digital controllers and real-time simulations in various fields.
It is a complete real-time control system based on a 603 PowerPC floating-point
processor running at 250 MHz.
For advanced I/O purposes, the board includes a slave-DSP subsystem based on
the TMS320F240 DSP microcontroller
Thus, the DS1104 R&D Controller Board is the ideal hardware for the dSPACE
Prototype development system for cost-sensitive RCP applications.
47

Implementation in Real-Time by using

dSPACE 1104

48

Switching pulses of one phase on dSPACE 1104

control desk

Implementation in Real-Time by using

dSPACE 1104

Phase-to-Phase Output voltage on dSPACE 1104

control desk
49

Implementation in Real-Time by using

dSPACE 1104

Line-to-Line Output voltage on dSPACE 1104 control

desk

50

Implementation in Real-Time by using

dSPACE 1104

a) I/O lines on dSPACE

1104
b) dSPACE 1104
Controller

51

Implementation in Real-Time by using

dSPACE 1104

52

Conclusi
on
A multilevel structure with more than three levels can significantly reduce the
harmonic content.

The output voltage and power increase with number of levels. Adding voltage
level involves a main switching device to each phase.
The switching function modelling is compared with the actual modelling of
multilevel inverter and results are validated.
Comparison analysis between both the technique shows the better performance
for the cascaded multilevel inverter for renewable energy systems applications.
dSPACE 1104 controller used for the real time implementation and the pulses
and can be demonstrated on DSO.

53

1.

Referenc
D. Mohan, A Comparative Analysis of Multi Carrier SPWM Control Strategies using Fifteen
es
Level Cascaded H bridge Multilevel Inverter International Journal of Computer Applications

(0975 8887) Volume 41 No.21, March 2012

2. Dhana Prasad Duggapu* and Swathi Nulakajodu Comparison between Diode Clamped and
H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter (5 to 15 odd levels) VSRD-IJEECE, Vol. 2 (5), 2012, 228-256
3. M .S. Aspalli., Anil Wamanrao, Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) With Variable
Carrier Synchronization for Multilevel Inverter Controllers.
4. J. S. Lai and F.Z. Peng Multilevel Converters A new breed of power converters IEEE Trans.
Ind Applicant , Vol. 32, May/June 1996.
5. Jose Roderiguez, Jih-Sheng Lai and Fang Zheng Reng, Multilevel Inverters A survey of
topologies ,control, and applications ,IEEE Trans. On Ind. Electronics, vol No.[4], August
2002.
6. Nabae, I Takashashi, and H. Akagi, A new neutral point clamped PWM inverter, IEEE
Trans. Ind Application Vol. No. IA-17,PP 518-523,Sept/oc 1981.
7. P.K.Chaturvedi, S. Jain, Pramod Agrawal Modeling , Simulation and Analysis of Three level
Neutral Point clamped inverter using matlab/Simulink/Power System Blockst
54
8. R. Krishnan, Control, Modeling and Analysis of Electrical Drives,
9. Bimal K. Bose, Modern power electronics and drives.
10.M. H. Rashid, Power Electronics; circuits, devices, and applications.

Paper Publication
Punit Ratnani, Samruddhi Shaha, Dr. A. G. Thosar, Simulation of Five- Level
Inverter with Sinusoidal PWM Carrier Technique Using MATLAB/Simulink,
Internal Journal of Energy and Environment, Sept 2014, ISSN: 0974-2150.
Impact Factor-1.4059
Prajakta Shinde, Dr. A. G. Thosar, Punit Ratnani, Design of Permanent Magnet
Synchronous Motor, International Journal of Scientific and Engineering
Research (IJSER), Volume 6, Issue 1, ISSN 2229-5518, January 2015
Punit Ratnani, Dr. A. G. Thosar, Mathematical Modelling of an 3 Phase Induction
Motor using MATLAB/Simulink, International Journal of Modern Engineering
Research (IJMER), Volume 4, Issue 6, ISSN 22496645, June 2014.

55

Trainings Attended
1. Attended a National level workshop series on Research Perspectives on
Solar PV System (Basics, Design, Simulation and Application) at PSG
College of Technology, Coimbatore.
2. Attended a National level workshop on Advances in Power Electronics and
Applications at AISSMS College of Engineering, Pune.
3. Attended a National level workshop on Signal Processing at Samrat Ashok
Technological Institute, Vidisha
4. Attended a short term training program in Energy Storage at NIELIT,
Aurangabad

56

THANK YOU...

Any QUESTIONS..??