Abstract:
Multilevel inverters can synthesize a high
voltage staircase waveform with low and medium voltage
components. A new multilevel inverter topology called
Asymmetric Dual Source Multilevel Inverter (ADS-MLI)
is proposed. When compared to the topologies found in
literature, it can produce multiple levels in the output
voltage with less number of power switches. Most of the
topologies found in the literature require cascading feature
to achieve asymmetric operation; but the ADS-MLI can
operate without the need for cascading. Further it requires
only two independent DC sources to produce multiple
levels in the voltage waveform. The independent sources
can be two independent Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) strings.
A simulation prototype capable of synthesizing 13 levels
fed by Solar PV strings is developed in MATLAB
Simulink environment. Its performance is observed in the
aspects of number of switching components, efficiency,
THD and its efficiency is compared with other topologies.
The performance of simulated ADS-MLI is validated with
a 1 kW prototype fabricated using FGA25N120-ANTD fed
by an Ecosense Solar PV emulator and controlled by
FPGA-SPARTAN 6 processor.
