Power Electronics Project Report

PROJECT REPORT OF
POWER ELECTRONICS LAB
Project Title: 9-Level Inverter Using Arduino

Group Members

Ayisha Naeem 2016-EE-351

Huma Umber Naz 2016-EE-359

Maha Iftikhar 2016-EE-379

Rimsha Chaudhary 2016-EE-376

Submitted to

Sir Ali Raza

Dated

17th December ,2019

Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY,
LAHORE
FAISLABAD CAMPUS

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DECLARATION BY CANDIDATES

We hereby declare that this project is submitted for the degree of Bachelor of Science Degree in
Electrical & Electronics Engineering at University of Engineering & Technology Lahore,
Faisalabad Campus is our original work and we done it by ourselves. We further declare that all
sources cited or quoted are indicated and acknowledged by means of a comprehensive list of
references.

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ABSTRACT
Power electronic converters, especially DC/AC inverters have been extending their range of use
in industry because of their numerous advantages. An inverter is utilized to transform a direct
current (DC) source into alternating current (AC) source using electronic components like
switch.
MOSFETs are used as switches While converting DC to AC, it is conceivable to acquire the
preferred output voltage and frequency by two types of inverters, one is two level and another
one is multi-level inverter (MLI). They typically the stair –case voltage waveform (from several
dc sources) which has reduced harmonic content. This project aims to extend the knowledge
about the performance of five levels Cascaded H-Bridge multilevel inverter topology with
Arduino. The PWM pulse will be generated by using Arduino. The output voltage is the sum of
the voltage that is generated by each bridge. The switching angles can be chosen in such a way
that the total harmonic distortion is minimized.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION BY CANDIDATES 2
ABSTRACT 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………………….5
CHAPTER 1 6
1. INTRODUCTION & DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS 6
1.1 Introduction 6
1.2 Description Of Components…………………………………………….….……..6

CHAPTER 2 8
2. PROJECT MODEL 8
2.1 Simulink Model 8
2.2 Results 9
CHAPTER 3 10
3. EXPERIMENTAL TESTING 10
3.1 Block Diagram 10
3.2 Circuit Diagram 10
3.3 Hardware Implementation 11
CHAPTER 4 13
4. PROPOSED ANALYTICAL MODELS 13
4.1 Arduino Code 13

4.2 Working 14

CHAPTER 5 15
5. CONCLUSION & FUTURE WORK 15
5.1 Project Achievement 15

5.2 Conclusion 15

REFERENCES 16

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: MOSFET.....................................................................................................................................7
Figure 2: Power Diodes..............................................................................................................................7
Figure 3: Resistors......................................................................................................................................8
Figure 4: Arduino UNO..............................................................................................................................8
Figure 5: SIMULINK model of 9-level inverter...........................................................................................9
Figure 6: output voltage with 9-levels.......................................................................................................10
Figure 7: Block Diagram of 9-Level Inverter............................................................................................10
Figure 8:Circuit Diagram of 9-Level Inverter using MOSFETS...............................................................11
Figure 9: Control Circuit..........................................................................................................................12
Figure 10: Polarity Circuit........................................................................................................................12
Figure 11: Output on Oscilloscope...........................................................................................................13
Figure 12: Arduino code for 9-level inverter.............................................................................................14

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INTRODUCTION & DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Inverter is a device, which transforms a DC source into an AC source. In the real world, all
loads (appliances/machines) do not use direct current (DC) power supply as their sources.
Induction heating, HVDC transmission, Un-interruptible power supply, electric motor speed
control require alternating current (AC) source. If the only available supply is DC, then the
conversion of DC to AC is needed, when the loads or any applications require AC power
source. In these situations, there is a need of inverters. So, the inverters show a very
significant character in the real world. In recent years many industrial applications need
higher power devices. The moderate voltage and higher power like megawatt power level are
requisite by certain moderate voltage motorized drives and utility uses hence multi-level
power inverter association progressives as an unusual in high power and medium voltage
circumstances. The conventional inverters yield an output voltage with levels ± Vdc, which
are termed as the two-level inverter. But this output is not a sinusoidal wave. To obtain
nearly sinusoidal wave, multi-level inverters are used. Conventional inverters cannot be
called as multilevel inverters. If the output of inverter consists of more than 2levels then only
that type of inverter can be called as multilevel inverter. Three-level inverter is the initiation
of multilevel concept. However, the fundamental perception of a multilevel inverter is to
attain higher power with the use of sequence of H-Bridges with numerous low voltage Direct
current sources to accomplish the power transformation by generating a set of steps or
stepped voltage waveform. Input Direct current sources to the multilevel inverter may be
either Batteries or Capacitors or any renewable energy voltage sources.

The most attractive features of multilevel inverters are as follows.

• They can generate output voltages with extremely low distortion and lower dv/dt.
• They draw input current with very low distortion.
• With a lower switching-frequency they can be operated.
• A multilevel inverter can eliminate the need for the step-up transformer and reduce
the harmonics produced by the inverter.
• With additional voltage levels, the voltage waveform has more free-switching angles,
which can be preselected for harmonics elimination.

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COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION
1.2 COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION
i) MOSFET (Switches):
A metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET, MOS-FET, or MOS FET) is
a field-effect transistor (FET with an insulated gate) where the voltage determines the
conductivity of the device. It is used for switching or amplifying signals. MOSFETs or
Transistors are used for the switching operation. These MOSFETs or Transistors are
connected to the primary winding of the inverter transformer. When these switching devices
receive the MOS drive signal from the driver circuit, they start switching between ON &
OFF states.

Figure 1: MOSFET

ii) POWER DIODES:

The power diode is a unijunction unidirectional semiconductor device. It is used in power
inverters (dc to ac) as a freewheeling diode. The diode has two terminals, the anode and the
cathode. It is a two-layer device, consisting of an n-type and a p-type layer forming a p–n
junction. In power diodes, we have a junction formed between a heavily doped P+ and a
lightly doped N– layer which is epitaxially grown on a heavily doped N+ layer. Power
Diodes work as a one-way valve, by conducting current in one direction (the forward
direction) while preventing flow in the other direction.

Figure 2: Power Diodes

iii) RESISTIVE LOAD:

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical
resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce current
flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages, bias active elements, and
terminate transmission lines, among other uses. 

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Figure 3: Resistors

iv) ARDUINO UNO: The Arduino Uno is an open-source microcontroller board based

the Microchip ATmega328P microcontroller. The board has 14 digital I/O pins (six capable
of PWM output), 6 analog I/O pins, and is programmable with the Arduino IDE (Integrated
Development Environment), via a type B USB cable.[4] It can be powered by the USB cable or
by an external 9-volt battery, though it accepts voltages between 7 and 20 volts. Each of the 14
digital pins and 6 analog pins on the Uno can be used as an input or output, under software
control (using pin-Mode (), digital-Write (), and digital-Read () functions). They operate at 5
volts. Each pin can provide or receive 20 mA as the recommended operating condition and has
an internal pull-up resistor (disconnected by default) of 20-50K ohm. A maximum of 40mA
must not be exceeded on any I/O pin to avoid permanent damage to the microcontroller. The
Uno has 6 analog inputs, labeled A0 through A5; each provides 10 bits of resolution (i.e. 1024
different values). By default, they measure from ground to 5 volts, though it is possible to
change the upper end of the range using the AREF pin and the analog-Reference () function.
PWM (pulse-width modulation): pins 6,7,8, 9, 10,11,12,13. Can provide 8-bit PWM output with
the analog-Write () function.

Figure 4: Arduino UNO

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PROJECT MODEL
2.1 SIMULINK Model:

Figure 5: SIMULINK model of 9-level inverter

2.2 Result:

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Figure 6: output voltage with 9-levels

EXPERIMENTAL TESTING
3.1 Block Diagram:

Figure 7: Block Diagram of 9-Level Inverter

3.2 Circuit Diagram:

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Figure 8:Circuit Diagram of 9-Level Inverter using MOSFETS

HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION
i) Control Circuit:

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ii) Polarity Circuit:

iii) Oscilloscope Output:

Figure 11: Output on Oscilloscope

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PROPOSED ANALYTICAL MODELS

4.1 Arduino Code:

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Figure 12: Arduino code for 9-level inverter

WORKING:
9-Level Inverter is an DC/AC inverter which converts DC input into AC output voltages.
Inverters are used to control frequency of output voltages. Each single DC sources is associated
with a single H-bridge converter & AC terminal voltages of different level converters are
connected in series & can generate three different voltage outputs, +V dc, -Vdc and zero. The AC
outputs voltage waveform is the sum of the individual converter outputs. Cascaded multilevel
inverter is having a unique and attractive topology such as simplicity in structure, usage of less-
number of components etc. their main advantage is that they can generate output voltages with
extremely low distortion and lower voltage stress (dv/dt). They can operate with a lower
switching frequency. In our circuit switching frequency will be 0.02Hz. Cascaded Multilevel
Inverter consist of series of H-bridge (Full Bridge) Inverter units. The circuit consists of two
parts: polarity circuit & control circuit. Polarity circuit provide signal to H-bridge which is
obtained by connecting 4 MOSFETS. MOSFETS are used as switches & Arduino is used to give
PWM signal to these switches to turn ON. MOSFETS are those switches which need some gate
pulse to turn ON. Total 8 switches are used to obtain 9-levels at output side. The switching pulse
for the inverter are sine PWM technique. The multilevel inverter output is more than the number
of inputs of the inverter.

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MOSFET switches are used to combine the different DC sources into the required
level of magnitude for the output AC voltage. When the first switch conducts a voltage of V dc
is obtained. When the second switch conducts a voltage level of 2vdc is obtained and so on.

The multilevel is of nine levels; hence four MOSFET switches are required. These switches
give a combined result, nine level inverted wave form. The wave form obtained is an
unsymmetrical one. This is because of the arrangement of DC sources between the switches.
The four MOSFETs act as switch which determines the various levels of Cascaded
Multilevel Inverter.

After uploading code to Arduino & then connecting PWM pins with switches & connecting DC
batteries to Control circuit output is obtained on Oscilloscope. H-bridge which is a polarity unit
has 4 switches. Pair of switches conduct in such a way that 1 & 3 conducts at the same time & 2-
4 conducts at one time & as a result output voltage of 9-levels are obtained at load which is a
resistor.

CONCLUSION & FUTURE WORK

5.1 Project Achievement:

Now a day’s many industrial applications have begun to require high power. Some appliances in
the industries however require medium or low power for their operation. Using a high-power
source for all industrial loads may prove beneficial to some motors requiring high power, while it
may damage the other loads. Some medium voltage motor drives and utility applications require
medium voltage. The Multi-level inverter is like an inverter and it is used for industrial
applications as alternative in high power and medium voltage situations.

Some advantages of Multi-level (9 level) inverters are:

 The multilevel inverters produce common mode voltage, reducing the stress of the motor
and don’t damage the motor.
 Multilevel inverters can draw input current with low distortion  
 The multilevel inverter can operate at both fundamental switching frequencies that are
higher switching frequency and lower switching frequency. It should be noted that the
lower switching frequency means lower switching loss and higher efficiency is achieved.

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 Selective harmonic elimination technique along with the multi-level topology results the
total harmonic distortion becomes low in the output waveform without using any filter
circuit.

5.2 Conclusion:

The 9-level MLI using just 8 switches is successfully introduced simulating the circuitry using
MATLAB/SIMULINK and observed a clear stepped 9-level waveform. Less number of switches
are used in this circuit & we obtained a better waveform. It is concluded that it can be used in
industries where low or high voltages are required. This is a simple technique which help us to
obtain voltages & frequency at output according to our need. It can also be concluded that by
simply controlling the switching states of MOSFETS connected with power diodes, different
levels can be obtained.

REFERENCES
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316907319_Single_Phase_9_Level_Symmetric
al_Cascaded_H-Bridge_Inverter_for_different_PWM_techniques , Conference: 2016
International Conference on Electrical Power and Energy Systems (ICEPES).
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325868267_Modeling_and_Simulation_of_Nin
e-Level_Cascaded_H-Bridge_Multilevel_Inverter, August 2018. 
 Ebrahim Babaei, Sara laali, Somayeh 2014 Cascaded Multilevel Inverter with Series
Connection of Novel H-Bridge Basic Units IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics
61, Issue: 12, pp- 6664 – 6671.
 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324764680_Design_and_Implementation_of_n
ine_level_multilevel_Inverter, Journal of Physics Conference Series , April 2018.

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