Multi-level Inverter Using Cascade H-bridge Topology

Abhay Singh , Manthan kudiya ,Hardik Desai, Samiksha Mate

PROF. KSHIPRA PANDEY, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, ACE, Mumbai
[email protected]

drives, and high-voltage transmission

Abstract: Multilevel inverters have systems. It underscores their role in
emerged as a pivotal technology in the enabling the efficient conversion of DC
field of electronics, revolutionizing the power sources into high-quality AC
conversion of direct current (DC) into power making them indispensable in
alternating current (AC). Unlike modern power systems.
traditional inverters with limited
voltage levels, multilevel inverters
1. INTRODUCTION
offer multiple discrete voltage levels,
MLIs were developed in 1975 as an
thereby enhancing output waveform alternative to directly connecting power
quality, reducing harmonic distortion, electronic switches to the medium-power
and improving overall system grid. MLIs are gaining popularity due to
several advantages, including lower
efficiency.This abstract delves into the harmonic distortion, simplified filters,
fundamental concepts and key improved waveform quality resembling a
characteristics of multilevel inverters. sinusoidal output, and reduced voltage
stress on the switches. MLIs find
It explores various topologies, applications in various fields of electrical
including diode-clamped, flying engineering, including renewable energy
capacitor, and cascaded H-bridge conversion, high-voltage DC
transmission, distributed generation (DG)
configurations, elucidating their systems, industrial drives, uninterruptible
advantages and trade-offs.The power supplies, and more. There are three
underlying principle of stacking power traditional multilevel inverter topologies:
Neutral Point Clamped (NPC), Cascaded
electronic switches to synthesize H-Bridge (CHB), and Flying Capacitors
different voltage levels is examined, (FCs). Out of these, one might be
elucidating the intricate control preferred depending on the specific
requirements and modular characteristics.
strategies involved ,the abstract A multilevel inverter is an electronic
highlights the diverse applications of device used in power electronics to
multilevel inverters, encompassing convert direct current (DC) into
alternating current (AC) with multiple
renewable energy integration, motor voltage levels. Unlike traditional inverters
that produce a square waveform with only employs T-type configurations to reduce
two voltage levels (high and low), voltage stress on the switching devices.
multilevel inverters generate waveforms It’s suitable for medium voltage
with several discrete voltage levels, applications. H-bridge Multilevel Inverter:
creating a closer approximation to a Consists of H-bridge cells connected in
sinusoidal AC waveform. series, making it simple and suitable for
low to medium voltage applications.
Modular Multilevel Inverter: Utilizes a
modular structure, allowing for easy
scalability by adding or removing sub
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
modules. It’s often used in high-
Diode-Clamped Multilevel Inverter voltage ,such as HVDC systems.These
(Neutral-Point Clamped Inverter): This various multilevel inverter topologies
topology uses diodes and capacitors to offer flexibility and efficiency for
create multiple voltage levels. It’s different applications, making it possible
relatively simple but can achieve a to choose the most suitable configuration
reasonable number of output voltage based on specific requirements like
levels.Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel voltage levels, power ratings and cost
Inverter: It consists of multiple H-bridge considerations.
cells connected in series.This
configuration can achieve a high number
of voltage levels and is commonly used in 3. SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
high-power applications.Flying Capacitor
Multilevel Inverter: This inverter employs The future scope of multilevel
flying capacitors to generate multiple inverters is promising and includes
voltage levels. It’s known for reduced several areas of development and
switching losses and good voltage application: Renewable Energy
waveform quality.Hybrid Multilevel Integration: Multilevel inverters will
Inverter: Combines different multilevel
inverter topology ,such as cascaded H-
play a crucial role in integrating
bridge and diode-clamped, to benefit from renewable energy source like solar
the strengths of each. Neutral-Point and wind into the-grid They allow
Clamped (NPC) Multilevel Inverter: This for higher voltage and power
topology uses clamping diodes and a quality, making them well-suited for
neutral point to create more voltage levels, grid-tied inverters and improving
improving the quality of the output
waveform.Symmetric and Asymmetric
the efficiency of energy
Multilevel Inverters: These topologies conversion.Electric Vehicles:
focus on achieving symmetrical or Multilevel inverters are expected to
asymmetric voltage levels to suit specific be a key technology in electric
applications and load vehicle (EV) drivetrains.They can
requirements.Cascaded Multi-cell efficiently control the power flow
Multilevel Inverter: It’s similar to the
cascaded H-bridge, but instead of H-
between the battery and the motor,
bridge cells, it uses smaller multi-cell contributing to extended battery life
units to create more voltage levels.T-Type and improved vehicle performance.
Multilevel Inverter: This topology
High-Voltage Direct Current efficiency and waveform quality.
(HVDC)Systems: Multilevel This includes better utilization of
inverters are ideal for HVDC semiconductor devices and reduced
transmission systems enabling switching losses.In summary, the
efficient power transmission over future of multilevel inverters is
long distances and interconnection bright, driven by the need for higher
between grids.They reduce efficiency, better power quality, and
harmonics and improve the reliable power electronics. solutions
reliability of HVDC in various application, including
systems.Factories and Industrial renewable energy, electric
Drives: Multilevel inverters are transportation, and smart grids.
well-suited for industrial Researchers and engineers will
applications that require high- continue to advance the technology
power, variable-speed drives, to meet the evolving demands of the
offering improved control and energy industry.
power quality. They can enhance
the performance of manufacturing 4. METHODOLOGY The methodology
processes and machinery. Grid for designing and implementing a multilevel
Stability Multilevel inverters can inverter typically involves several key steps:
provide grid support functions, Topology Selection: Choose the appropriate
helping to stabilize voltage and multilevel inverter topology based on your
frequency in the presence of specific application requirements and
constraints. Common topologies include the
intermittent renewable energy Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB), Neutral Point
sources. They can be used in Clamped (NPC), Flying Capacitor, and others,
Flexible AC Transmission Systems each with its advantages and disadvantages.
(FACTS) and grid smoothing Component Selection: Select the power
applications.Power Electronics in semiconductor devices (usually IGBTs or
Smart Grids As smart grids continue MOSFETs) and other components like
capacitors, inductors, and DC voltage sources.
to evolve multilevel inverters will The choice of components impacts the
contribute to grid intelligence by inverter’s performance and efficiency.
enabling more efficient and Modulation Technique: Decide on the
controlled power distribution. They modulation technique that will control the
can enhance the reliability and switching of the power devices. Common
resilience of power systems. modulation methods include Sinusoidal Pulse
Width Modulation (SPWM), Space Vector
Advanced Modulation Techniques: Modulation (SVM), and others. The
Ongoing research will focus on modulation technique determines the quality
developing more advanced of the output waveform. Voltage Levels:
modulation techniques for Determine the desired number of output
multilevel inverters, improving the voltage levels. This decision may be based on
the application’s requirements, such as grid
connection standards, motor drive
specifications, or other factors.DC Voltage
Sources: If using a cascaded topology, decide 6. RESULT
how to generate and manage the multiple DC Sine Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) is a
voltage sources needed for the inverter. technique employed in power electronics to
Control Strategy: Develop the control strategy control the width of pulses in an inverter’s
that dictates how the switching devices should output, with the aim of closely approximating
be operated to produce the desired output a sine wave. In SPWM, a reference sine wave
voltage and minimize harmonic distortion. is compared with a carrier waveform,
This includes the generation of switching allowing for the adjustment of the duty cycle
signals based on the modulation technique of the resulting PWM signals to achieve the
chosen. desired output waveform.The output voltage
and current are generated in discrete steps,
characteristic of a 5-level multilevel inverter.
5. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM These multilevel inverters are known for their
ability to reduce harmonic distortion in the

output waveform when compared to

conventional two-level inverters. A lower
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) value advantageous. HVDC Transmission: In high-
indicates a better approximation to a pure sine voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission
wave.In this specific systems, CHBMLIs improve the efficiency
case, the THD for the 5-level inverter is and reliability of long-distance power
measured at 32.82 transmission. They help reduce losses and
harmonic
distortion
7. CONCLUSION
n conclusion, the Cascade H-Bridge
Multilevel Inverter (CHBMLI) stands as a
pivotal and versatile technology in the field of
power electronics and power conversion. Its
modular, cascaded structure allows for a wide
range of voltage levels, making it an ideal 8. REFERENCES
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