Enhanced soft-switched T-type neutral-point clamped (T-NPC) inverter with reduced component number

This paper presents an enhanced soft-switched T-type neutral-point clamped inverter featuring a compact active snubber cell that delivers zero-voltage transition turn-on and zero-voltage switching (ZVS) turn-off for the main switches, while auxiliary switches operate with zero-current switching turn-on and ZVS turn-off. Unlike prior designs, four auxiliary-path diodes are eliminated, reducing component count, conduction path length, and reverse-recovery losses, which in turn lowers cost, eases thermal management, and boosts power density. The proposed topology maintains full soft switching (SS) for all active devices without introducing additional voltage or current stress. The theoretical analysis of the inverter is clarified, and the operating modes for steady-state analysis are presented in detail. Experimental validation on a 400 V, 1 kW, and 100 kHz prototype demonstrates consistent SS across load conditions and a peak efficiency of 97.2%. The combination of higher efficiency, structural simplicity, and cost-effectiveness makes the proposed inverter a strong candidate for high-performance, compact T-type applications in renewable energy, and electric drive systems.