A novel three-phase switched capacitor multilevel inverter for PV applications

Area of Science:

• Power Electronics
• Electrical Engineering
• Renewable Energy Systems

Background:

• Multilevel inverters (MLIs) are crucial for power conversion.
• Switched-capacitor MLIs (SCMLIs) offer advantages but often require complex designs.
• Existing SCMLI topologies may lack efficiency or require additional components for voltage gain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, compact 5-level switched-capacitor multilevel inverter (5 L-SCMLI).
• To achieve a voltage gain of two without external magnetic circuits or DC-DC converters.
• To demonstrate a cost-effective and efficient solution for power electronics systems.

Main Methods:

• Design and simulation of a new 5 L-SCMLI topology (PT).
• Implementation using only five switches, two capacitors, and one diode.
• Comparative analysis with existing SCMLI structures.
• Validation through extensive simulation and experimental studies.

Main Results:

• The proposed topology (PT) synthesizes 5-level (line-to-line) output.
• Achieved a voltage gain of two with automatic capacitor voltage balancing.
• Demonstrated superior efficiency (97.81%) and cost-effectiveness (54.59 USD).
• Validated effectiveness through simulations and experiments.

Conclusions:

• The proposed 5 L-SCMLI is a highly efficient and cost-effective solution.
• It simplifies design by eliminating the need for extra magnetic circuits or boost converters.
• The technology supports Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 9 through enhanced energy conversion and sustainable power systems.