2015 International Conference on Industrial Instrumentation and Control (ICIC)
College of Engineering Pune, India. May 28-30, 2015
A New Switching Scheme for a New Multi Level
Inverter Topology for Grid Connected PV Systems
G K Naveen Kumar
Department of Electrical Engineering
National Institute of Technology
Kurukshetra, India
gknavinkmr712@gmail.com
Abstract—Among Renewable Energy Systems, Photovoltaic
systems are widely used as they are clean and easily installable.
These PV cells convert sunlight into electricity in the form of dc. A
suitable converter is usually needed to convert the dc power into
ac power, which is then injected into the power grid. Recently the
use of multilevel inverters (MLIs) in modern drives and for
interfacing the renewable generation systems to the grid have
given a wide scope for designing new topologies of MLIs. This
paper presents a new switching scheme for a new topology of MLI
with reduced number of switches for interfacing PV modules with
the grid. Among the different switching schemes, this paper uses
Unipolar pulse width modulation (PWM) technique for the
switching of H-bridge switches, while for the outer switches
sinusoidal modulating wave is compared with dc component for its
switching. From the obtained Matlab/Simulink environment
results the THD of output voltage of 21-level MLI is within limits
specified by IEEE 519 standard. In addition, a comparative
analysis of this new topology of MLI with conventional topologies
in terms of number of switches for seven-level, thirteen-level and
twenty-one level has been presented. It is also observed that this
PV module fed new MLI fed to micro grid satisfies the grid
requirements and conditions such as amplitude of Grid voltage,
phase angle and frequency.
Keywords—PV module, Multi Level Inverter, Unipolar PWM,
Total Harmonic Distortion,Grid.
I. INTRODUCTION
A group of DC sources and switching devices together
constitute a multi level inverter, the output of which is a stepped
waveform with number of DC levels. Many topologies with
wide variety of control techniques are developed in the past few
decades. The conventional multi level inverters like Neutral
Point Clamped or Diode Clamped (NPC), the Flying Capacitor
(FC), and the Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) have some drawbacks.
Hence a wide research is going on to develop Smart multilevel
inverters with huge advantages. NPC uses large number of
clamping diodes with deviating voltages; in FC switching
utilization is poor with large number of capacitors and
unbalanced DC link voltage is the main drawback of this
topology. But cascaded H-Bridge gives a better output THD
and less distortion compared to NPC and FC topologies but it
requires large number of dc sources [1]-[5].
Apart from these three conventional topologies many
topologies are introduced. Recently large number of proposed
topologies is based on the Hybrid multistage and asymmetrical
configurations. In hybrid multistage configuration bidirectional
switches are used for improving the performance of single
phase and three phase MLI topologies [6]-[12].
978-1-4799-7165-7/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE
K P P Vadhiraj, Member, IEEE
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
PES University
Bengaluru, India
kanchivadhiraj@gmail.com
Compared to the unidirectional one, bidirectional switch is able
to conduct the current and withstand the voltage in both
directions. Bidirectional switches with an appropriate control
technique can improve the performance of multilevel inverters
in terms of reducing the number of semiconductor switches;
minimizing the withstanding voltage and achieving the desired
output voltage with higher levels[6]-[8]. In asymmetrical
configurations, the magnitude of dc supplies are unequal. But
these configurations are reliable with less number of switches,
sources, capacitors and also reduce the installation area and cost
[11]-[14].
A new twenty seven level MLI topology proposed in [6],
which maximizes the number of output voltage levels with
4.4% THD of its output voltage. But the drawback of this
topology is that it requires four bidirectional switches and three
voltage sources in the ratio of 1: 3: 9, which increase the voltage
stress. A new class of multilevel inverters based on a multilevel
DC link (MLDCL) and a bridge inverter has been proposed in
[7]. The realization of MLDCL can be possible using a diode-
clamped phase leg or a flying-capacitor phase leg or cascaded
half-bridge cells having their own DC sources. Despite a higher
total VA rating of the switches, this topology needs four high
rating switches for output side H-bridge.
Nineteen levels MLI topology proposed in literature [8] based
on the series connection of sub multilevel inverters comprising
the basic unit and full bridge converter.
A new topology of MLI is proposed in literature [9] with
minimum number of switches, DC voltage sources and standing
voltage on the switches. In this paper [9] two new algorithms
are proposed to determine the magnitude of DC voltage
sources, but this topology also requires bi-directional switches.
Another new topology of cascaded type is proposed in [10] with
reduced number of passive devices and insulated gate driver
circuits. For implementation this proposed topology requires
four high rating switches for output side H-bridge and bi-
directional switches.
This paper uses a new topology of multilevel inverter that
produces a low THD output voltage with less number of power
switches and dc sources. Reduction of THD level for better
output voltage is done by new switching methods for different
switches in the inverter. The DC source in the form of PV
Module is used as an input for the inverter and further interfaced
with Grid satisfying the Grid conditions[13],[14]. Finally, the
paper includes the simulation results of 7-level, 13-level and
21-level multilevel inverter along with Grid voltage and current
patterns after interfacing. A typical PV cell is a p-n junction
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formed in a semiconductor material similar to a diode as shown levels switches S3 and S4 should be turned ON. For zero level
in the Fig. 1. simultaneously either S1&S3 or S2&S4 should be turned ON.
The switching pattern for different levels of MLI is shown in
tabular form below. In the table representing switching patterns
for N-level ‘1’is treated as “ON” and ‘0’ as “OFF”.
Isc Rs
TABLE I: SWITCHING SEQUENCE FOR SEVEN LEVELS
Id S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 Load
Rp Vdc Voltage
1 1 0 0 0 0 +3Vdc

1 1 0 0 0 1 +2Vdc

Fig.1 A typical PV cell model 1 1 0 0 1 0 +Vdc

All the simulations for this multi-level inverter are carried out 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
in Matlab/Simulink environment R2014a and the
0 0 1 1 1 0 -Vdc
corresponding results are shown in this paper.
0 0 1 1 0 1 -2Vdc
II. NEW TOPOLOGY
Based on the asymmetrical configuration a new topology 0 0 1 1 0 0 -3Vdc
having less number of power electronic components and
unequal sources is shown below in Fig.2.
The seven level proposed inverter uses only six switches
compared to cascaded H-bridge inverter which uses ten
switches and three separate dc sources. But in proposed
S5 inverter, the requirement of separate dc sources is only two
D1
(unequal) and the switching losses are also low. The output
waveform has 7 levels: ± 3Vdc, ± 2Vdc, ± Vdc and 0 level.
Vdc
S1 S3 Switching sequence for seven level multilevel inverter is shown
in TABLE I.
TABLE II: SWITCHING SEQUENCE FOR THIRTEEN LEVELS
INVERTER
S6
D2 LOAD S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 Load Voltage
1 1 0 0 1 1 0 +6Vdc
S4 S2
2Vdc 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 +5Vdc

1 1 0 0 0 0 0 +4Vdc
1 1 0 0 0 0 1 +3Vdc

1 1 0 0 0 1 0 +2Vdc
1 1 0 0 1 0 0 +Vdc
Sn 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
DN
0 0 1 1 1 0 0 -Vdc
NV dc 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 -2Vdc

0 0 1 1 0 0 1 -3Vdc

0 0 1 1 0 0 0 -4Vdc
Fig.2 Generalized Structure of a new Multi level Inverter (MLI) 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 -5Vdc
0 0 1 1 0 1 0 -6Vdc
It consists of one H-bridge inverter on right part of its structure
and ‘N’ number of cascaded cells with integral multiple of Vdc.
The thirteen level new multi level inverter uses only seven
The number of levels that can be obtained by this topology
switches compared to cascaded H-bridge inverter which uses
depends on number of cascaded cells in the circuit and is given
twenty four switches and six separate dc sources. But in new
by:
inverter, the requirement of separate dc sources is only three
(unequal) and the switching losses are also low. The output
Number of Levels= [N (N+1) +1] (1)
waveform has 13 levels: ± 6Vdc, ± 5Vdc, ±4Vdc± 3Vdc, ± 2Vdc,
± Vdc and 0 level. Sequence of switching implemented for
Where N=Number of cells cascaded excluding outer H-bridge.
thirteen levels is shown in TABLE II.
In order to obtain integral multiple of +Vdc levels in the output
voltage, switches S1 and S2 should be turned ON and for –Vdc

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 III. NEW SWITCHING SCHEME
TABLE II: SWITCHING SEQUENCE FOR TWENTY ONE LEVELS
INVERTER
This topology of MLI consists of a cascaded H-bridge
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 Load
comprising four switches at the output and a series of switches
Voltage
at the input of the inverter, as shown in Fig.2. In this paper, a
1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 +10Vdc
new switching pattern is proposed for this MLI topology. The
1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 +9Vdc switches forming cascaded H-bridge are switched by Unipolar
1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 +8Vdc PWM technique and the outer switches from S5 to Sn are
1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 +7Vdc switched by comparing a sinusoidal modulating wave with DC
1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 +6Vdc component. For the Unipolar PWM technique the carrier
1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 +5Vdc frequency is equal to the line frequency as shown in Fig.3.
1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 +4Vdc
1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 +3Vdc
1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 +2Vdc
1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 +Vdc
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Amplitude
0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 -Vdc
0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 -2Vdc
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 -3Vdc
0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 -4Vdc
0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 -5Vdc
0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 -6Vdc
0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 -7Vdc
Time (in Sec.)
0 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 -8Vdc
0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 -9Vdc
0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 -10Vdc Fig.3 Unipolar PWM for H-Bridge Switches

IV. GRID INTERFACED PV SYSTEM MODULE

The twenty-one level new multi level inverter uses only eight The block diagram of the proposed grid connected PV system
switches compared to cascaded H-bridge inverter which uses module is shown in the Fig.4. It consists of a PV system, new
forty switches and ten separate dc sources. But in new inverter, multi level inverter to interface with the grid.
the requirement of separate dc sources is only four (unequal)
and the switching losses are also low. The output waveform has
21 levels: ± 10Vdc, ± 9Vdc, ±8Vdc,± 7Vdc ,± 6Vdc, ± 5Vdc,
±4Vdc± 3Vdc, ± 2Vdc, ±Vdc and 0 level. Sequence of switching
implemented for twenty-one levels is shown in TABLE III.
TABLE IV: COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT TOPOLOGIES

Topol 7-level MLI 13-level MLI 21-level MLI Fig.4 Grid interfaced photovoltaic system through twenty-one levels MLI
ogy
Numb Num Numb Num Numb Num The PV cell directly converts the solar energy into electricity in
er of ber of er of ber of er of ber of the form of dc. The voltage obtained from the PV is converted
switc DC switc DC switc DC into ac using the proposed inverter. Finally the proposed
hes Sourc hes Sourc hes Sourc inverter is connected to the power grid along with satisfying the
es es es grid requirements such as phase angle, frequency and amplitude
Diode 12 6 24 12 40 20 of the grid voltage.
Clamp
V. SIMULATION RESULTS
ed
MLI
Flying 12 6 24 12 40 20
Capaci
Voltage (in Volts)

tor
MLI
Casca 12 3 24 6 40 10
ded H-
bridge
MLI
NEW 6 2 7 3 8 4
MLI Time(in Sec.)
Fig.5 Simulated output voltage of seven levels inverter with new switching
scheme

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From Fig. 5, it is observed that the output voltage of new MLI
has seven levels which are integral multiples of DC source
voltage.

V oltage(in Volts )
Time(in Sec.)
Fig.9 Simulated output voltage of twenty one levels inverter with new
switching scheme
From Fig.9, it is observed that the output voltage of new MLI
has twenty-one levels which are integral multiples of DC source
voltage.
Fig.6 THD spectrum of output voltage of seven levels inverter with new
switching scheme
From Fig. 6, the THD obtained from this new seven level
inverter with new switching is 15.40%.
Voltage(in Volts)

Fig.10 THD spectrum of output voltage of twenty one levels inverter with
new switching scheme
From Fig. 10, the THD obtained from this new seven level
Time(in Sec.) inverter with new switching is 4.79%. This THD obtained in
Fig.7 Simulated output voltage of thirteen levels inverter with new switching this type of inverter matches with the limits of IEEE 519
scheme standard. Hence, this inverter is used as interfacing converter
From Fig.7, it is observed that the output voltage of new MLI for PV tied Grid.
has thirteen levels which are integral multiples of DC source
voltage.
Voltage & Current
Grid Connected

Time(in Sec.)
Fig.11 Grid connected Voltage and Current of twenty one levels inverter fed
to grid

From Fig.11 it is observed that the phase angle between the grid
Voltage and grid Connected Current is zero, which reflects the
Fig.8 THD spectrum of output voltage of thirteen levels inverter with new system works under unity power factor and also it satisfies the
switching scheme grid conditions such as frequency, amplitude of the grid voltage
and the phase angle.
From Fig.8, the THD obtained from this new seven levels
inverter with new switching is 7.59%.

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 CONCLUSION
This paper explores a grid connected PV system through a new
multilevel inverter with reduced number of switches along with
new scheme of switching. This multilevel inverter uses less
number of switches, hence the switching losses and cost of
inverter is less compared to conventional MLIs .Increasing the
number of output voltage levels reduces the lower order
harmonics and the THD. The output voltage of a twenty-one
levels multi-level inverter gives 4.79% THD which is within
limits specified by IEEE 519 standard. It's preferred that the
output voltage has no lower order harmonics because their
filtering is not so easy. From the results it is observed that grid
voltage and grid injected current are in phase with each other.
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