Obtaining a pure sinusoidal waveform using

multilevel inverters with increased higher

voltage levels using NPC H-Bridge
S.DEVI LAVANYA
1
, Dr.KIRUBAKARAN.D
2
1
Research scholar in Prist University, Tanjavur-613 403, Tamilnadu-India
1
E&C Dept., Associate professor, Nadgir Institute of Engineering and technology,Bangalore-560072 Karnataka-India,
2
Professor/EEE, St. Josephs Institute of Technology, Chennai -119, Tamil Nadu-India
devilavanyas@gmail.com, kirubad@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: This paper presents a Multilevel inverter that
consists of a standard 3-leg two level inverter cascaded with two
new neutral point clamped H-bridge inverter in series with each
inverter leg with a single dc voltage source of 300V. The control
signals for this multilevel inverter is obtained by using carrier
based PWM technique. The proposed multilevel inverter is used
to obtain a pure sinusoidal waveform which is verified using
MATLAB/SIMULINK software. The results of the simulation,
the output waveform of three phase voltage and phase current
obtained are pure sinusoidal therefore the proposed topology can
be implemented for HVDC transmission and induction motor
drives using the dc source obtained from solar panels which is
converted to ac using proposed topology. The proposed topology
is concentrated to increase the voltage levels of the output using a
single dc source. The new NPC flying capacitor H-Bridge
inverter is invented in this paper and its advantages are
discussed in this paper by doing so a pure sine wave is obtained.
KEYWORDS: New NPC flying capacitor H-bridge inverter,
multilevel inverter, HVDC, two level flying capacitor inverter,
sinusoidal waveform, Solar panels.
I..INTRODUCTI ON
A multilevel inverter is a power electronic converter
built to synthesize a desired AC voltage from several levels
of dc voltages in which the DC levels a r e obtained from
b a t t e r i e s , solar cells, capacitors, etc. In this paper, the
proposed topology uses a new two NPC H-bridge inverter
in series with each leg of two level inverter and suitable
PWM technique is used to obtain a pure sinusoidal
waveform which is not in the form of multilevel which is
the actual meaning of multilevel inverter. The prototype is
tested with resistive inductive load one with NPC and other
without NPC. This analysis is carried out without using any
low pass or high pass filter.
Several topologies and Several PWM techniques were
carried out which were complicating the entire control and
power circuit. The proposed topology implements a simple
carrier based PWM technique implemented with a new
two NPC H-bridge inverter and increased voltage levels.
To obtain a quality output voltage or a current waveform
with a minimum amount of ripple content, they require
various pulse width modulation (PWM) strategies, which
increase the switching frequency of the power devices.
In the case of multi level inverters, as the number of
voltage levels increases the harmonic content of the
output voltage waveform decreases, even without using
any pulse width modulation technique. As the switching
frequency is reduced the power losses are also minimized, and
thereby increasing the efficiency of the system. The paper is
focused to obtain a pure sinusoidal waveform using a
single dc voltage source without using any filters. The
proposed topology implements the development of
sinusoidal A C voltage can be obtained us i ng a single DC
voltage source at desired output voltage and frequency by
using a power electronics device that is called an inverter.
Industrial applications of inverters are for adjustable-speed
AC drives, UPS (uninterruptible power supply), HVDC
transmission lines. DC power inputs that inverters can use
the solar panels as a dc supply and show that the proposed
topology can be used for industries.
II. SIMULATION ANALYSIS
The power circuit diagram of a three phase full bridge
inverter is shown in Fig (1). The dc supply is obtained f r o m
a b a t t e r y o r f r o m s o l a r p a n e l s . The p o w e r
circuit is obtained by using 30 switches, SEVEN switches for
each of the three phases which forms the circuit. Each step
is defined as a change in the time operation for each IGBT to
the next IGBT in proper sequence. For one cycle 360 degree,
each step would be of 60 degree interval for a six step inverter.
Fig (1) shows the power circuit diagram of a three phase bridge
inverter using seven IGBTs in each phase. Capacitors are
connected as shown in figure serving as DC voltage source.
Several topologies and several PWM techniques are going on
research for multilevel inverters to obtain a pure sinusoidal
waveform. Each step is defined as a change in the time
operation for each IGBT to the next IGBT in proper sequence.
For one cycle 360 degree, each step would be of 60 degree
interval for a six step inverter. Fig (1) shows the power circuit
diagram of a three phase bridge inverter using seven IGBTs in
each phase. Several topologies and several PWM techniques are
going on research for multilevel inverters to obtain a pure
sinusoidal waveform. The proposed topology solves this
problem. The analysis is carried out using
MATLAB/SIMULINK model. The proposed PWM technique
is quite similar to a carrier based PWM. The prototype is tested
with two types of load such as R and RL load
978-1-4673-2818-0/13/$31.00 2013 IEEE
H-BRIDGE 1 H-BRIDGE 2
Figure (1) MATLAB/SIMULINK circuit for proposed three-phase multilevel inverter with two NPC H-
bridge inverter.
Figure (2) The PWMsignals given to a two level inverter
S11
S12
S13
S14
S21
S22
S23
S24
S31
S32
S33
S34
S101
S102
S103
S104
S201
S202
S203
S204
S301
S302
S303
S304
1a
1f
2a
2f
3a
3f
300v
15f
150v
15f
150v
1ohm
1ohm
15f
70v

15f
70v
15f
70v
15f
70v
15f
70v
15f
70v
15f
35v
15f
35v
15f
35v
15f
35v
15f
35v
15f
35v
100 ohm
1e-10 henry
Discrete,
s = 5e-005 s
powergui
Vabc
Iabc
A
B
C
a
b
c
ABC
ABC
In1
In2
In3
S11
S12
S13
S14
S21
S22
S23
S24
S31
S32
S33
S34
In1
In2
In3
S11
S12
S13
S14
S21
S22
S23
S24
S31
S32
S33
S34
1a
2a
3a
1f
2f
3f
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
-T-
[l3a]
-T-
-T-
-T-
[l2a]
-T-
-T- [l 24]
[l 14]
[l 33]
[l 23]
[l 13]
[l 32]
[l 22]
[l 12]
[l 31]
-T-
[l 21]
[l 11]
[l 3f]
-T-
[l 2f]
-T-
[l 1f]
-T-
-T-
-T-
[l 34]
[l1a]
-T-
[l3a]
[l 2f]
-T-
-T-
[l 2a]
[l 1f]
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T- -T-
-T-
-T-
[l 3f]
-T- -T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T- -T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
[l 1a]
i
+
-
6
3f
5
2f
4
1f
3
3a
2
2a
1
1a
In1
In2
In3
S11
S12
S13
S14
S21
S22
S23
S24
S31
S32
S33
S34
>
>
>
NOT
NOT
Logi cal
Operator4
NOT
NOT
NOT
Logical
Operator10
NOT
Figure (3) The PWM signal given to new NPC H-
bridge inverter1.
Figure (4) The PWM signals given to new NPC H-
bridge inverter2
Figure (6) MATLAB/SIMULINK circuit for proposed three-phase multilevel inverter without NPC H- bridge
inverter.
III. COMPARISON WITH OTHER TOPOLOGIES
As per [7] it requires a more number of filters and
more number of chargeable capacitor for capacitor voltage
balancing. But the proposed topology reduces the amount
of flying capacitors used it uses a new NPC H-bridge
inverter which reduces the amount of filters used and also
increases the voltage levels. Since the proposed topology
uses two neutral points clamped H-bridge inverter which
makes it not to use any filters. The waveform shown in
figure (5) is pure sinusoidal without using any filter. The
waveform shown in figure (7) is a stepped waveform but
the proposed topology waveform is sinusoidal the reason is
because of using new NPC H-bridge inverter. As per [1] to
obtain a pure sinusoidal wave form using SVPWM it
should be operated in over modulation region so by doing
so the sinusoidal waveform is not obtained expect the
magnitude is increased but in the proposed topology both
the current and voltage waveforms are pure sinusoidal. As
per [9] it uses a second order low pass filter which is not
power electronic equipment which requires two dual power
supplies.
12
S34
11
S33
10
S32
9
S31
8
S24
7
S23
6
S22
5
S21
4
S14
3
S13
2
S12
1
S11
>
>
>
> >
>
NOT
NOT
NOT
NOT
NOT
NOT
3
In3
2
In2
1
In1
12
S304
11
S303
10
S302
9
S301
8
S204
7
S203
6
S202
5
S201
4
S104
3
S103
2
S102
1
S101
>
>
>
>
>
>
NOT
NOT
NOT
NOT
NOT
NOT
3
In3
2
In2
1
In1
S11
S12
S13
S14
S21
S22
S23
S24
S31
S33
S34
S101
S102
S103
S104
S201
S202
S203
S204
S301
S302
S303
S304
1a
1f
2a
2f
3a
3f
300v
15f
150v
15f
150v
1ohm
1ohm
15f
70v
15f
70v
15f
70v
15f
35v
15f
35v
15f
35v
100 ohm
1e-10 henry
S32
Discrete,
Ts = 5e-005 s
powergui
Vabc
Iabc
A
B
C
a
b
c
ABC
ABC
In1
In2
In3
S11
S12
S13
S14
S21
S22
S23
S24
S31
S32
S33
S34
In1
In2
In3
S11
S12
S13
S14
S21
S22
S23
S24
S31
S32
S33
S34
1a
2a
3a
1f
2f
3f
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
g
m
C
E
-T-
[l 3a]
-T-
-T-
-T-
[l 2a]
-T-
-T- [l 24]
[l 14]
[l 33]
[l 23]
[l 13]
[l 32]
[l 22]
[l 12]
[l 31]
-T-
[l 21]
[l 11]
[l 3f]
-T-
[l 2f]
-T-
[l 1f]
-T-
-T-
-T-
[l 34]
[l 1a]
-T-
[l 3a]
[l 2f]
-T-
-T-
[l 2a]
[l 1f]
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T- -T-
-T-
-T-
[l 3f]
-T- -T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
-T- -T-
-T-
-T-
-T-
[l 1a]
i
+
-
Figure (5) The three pha
IV. DESIGN OF THE PRO
TOPOLOGY
The input dc voltage given to the propos
to Vdc=300volts which is clamped to +Vdc/
capacitors, which is given as input to the two
input given to the NPC H-bridge inverter is
given by means of chargeable capacitor. Th
H-bridge is equal to +Vdc/8 and -Vdc/8 volt
capacitance used is 15 farads. The output o
voltage obtained is around 100 volts.
Figure (7) The three phase output v
Current waveform of proposed top
NPC.
ase voltage and phase current waveform of proposed topo
OPOSED
sed topology is equal
/2 and -Vdc/2 using
o level inverter. The
+ Vdc/4 and -Vdc/4
he input given to the
ts. The value of the
of the peak to peak
voltage and phase
pology without
V. SCOPE OF THE PRO
In future we can use the pro
ac power generation using solar p
suitable for industries as there is
which is required for ac power
topology can be used for ac power
topology a new NPC H-bridge i
future it may be carried out to red
if a suitable PWM technique is inv
levels so the proposed new NPC
there and thereby reducing one N
place. As the proposed topology
compared with when we use single
two level inverter the amount of
where the output voltage of sing
reduces the number of components
using solar panels.
VI. CONC
The proposed topology con
inverter cascaded with a two new
supply given to the circuit is a sing
obtained is sinusoidal. The simulat
inductive load. The output of th
sinusoidal and this output is gi
obtained is pure sinusoidal obtain
this topology can be used for ac
used in industries. The simul
Simulink/matlab software. The p
phase multilevel inverter which sh
ology.
OPOSED TOPOLOGY
posed topology for three phase
panels as dc source and make it
s a scarcity of water in future
r generation so the proposed
r generation. As in the proposed
s invented in this paper so in
duce the number of components
vented to increase the number of
H-bridge inverter can be used
NPC H-bridge inverter at that
y increases the output voltage
e NPC H-Bridge in series with a
f solar panels can be reduced
gle solar cell is 0.6volts which
s required to obtain a dc supply
LUSION
nsists of a 3-phase two level
w NPC H-bridge inverter. The
gle dc power source. The output
tion is carried out with resistive
he proposed topology is pure
iven to the load. The output
ed using a single dc source, so
power generation and can be
lation is carried out using
proposed topology is a three-
hows the comparison with and
without NPC in H-bridge inverter. The new NPC flying capacitor
H-Bridge inverter has been invented in this paper and its
advantages are as explained.
REFERENCES
[1] A General Space Vector PWM Algorithm for multilevel
inverters including operation in overmodulation region. IEEE
Transactions on power electronics. Volume 22 . NO.2. 2007.
[2] A.V.RAVI KUMAR, G.RAVI KUMAR International
Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA)
[3] P. J. Link, Minimizing electric bearing currents in
ASD systems, IEEE Ind. Applicat. Mag., vol. 5, pp. 5566,
July/Aug. 1999.
[4] D. Rendusara, E. Cengelci, P. Enjeti, V. Stefanovic,
andW. Gray, Analysis of common mode voltage -Neutral
shift in medium voltagePWM adjustable speed drive (MV-
ASD) systems, in Proc. IEEE PESC99, 1999, CDROM.
[5] L. Palma, L. Morn, and R. Wallace and cost effective
solution to reduce motor bearing currents in PWM inverter
drives, in Proc. ISIE 2000, pp. 425429.
[6] H. Zhang, A. von Jouanne, and A. Wallace,Multilevel
inverter modulation schemes to eliminate common-mode
voltages, in Conf. Rec.IEEE-IAS Annu. Meeting, 1998, CD-
ROM.
[7] ] International Journal of Engineering and Technology
Volume 2 No. 7, July, 2012 ISSN: 2049-3444 2012 IJET
Publications UK. All rights reserved. 1131 Investigations on
Three Phase Five Level Flying Capacitor Multilevel Inverter
R.Balamurugan1, S.P.Natarajan2, R.Bensraj3.
[8] M. Venu Madhav MATLAB based Analysis and
Simulation of Multilevel Inverters International Journal of
Computer Applications (0975 8887) Volume 39 No.4,
February 2012.
[9] R.S. Kanchan, M.R. Baiju, K.K. Mohapatra, P.P.
Ouseph and K. Gopakumar Space vector PWM signal
generation for multilevel inverters using only the sampled
amplitudes of reference phase voltages
[10] International Conference on Emerging Frontiers in
Technology for Rural Area (EFITRA) 2012 Proceedings
published in International Journal of Computer Applications
(IJCA) Performance of Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation
based Three level inverter.
AUTHORS BIBILOGRAPHY
S.Devi Lavanya born on 15/8/1980
received the B.E. degree from BMSCE
college VTU University in 2005 and
received M.E. from Sathyabama University
in 2009 and working in NDIET as Associate
professor in E&C Department, Now
currently research scholar in PRIST
University Tanjavur, Tamilnadu-India. Areas of interest in
multilevel inverters and dc-dc converters.

Dr.Kirubakaran.D has obtained his PhD
from Anna University in 2010 And M.E.
from Barthidasan University in 2000. His
areas of interest are AC-AC Converters
for induction heating. He has 13 years of
teaching experience. He is a life member of
ISTE.