A novel asymmetric thirteen level inverter for medium voltage applications

Multilevel inverters (MLIs) are widely employed in medium-voltage and high-power applications because of their ability to enhance output waveform quality and reduce the voltage stress imposed on power semiconductor devices. Nevertheless, many existing MLI configurations require a large number of switches and auxiliary components, which increases system complexity, implementation cost, and overall device stress. This study presents a compact and efficient multilevel inverter topology that addresses these limitations while ensuring reliable operation and improved power quality. The proposed inverter is a novel asymmetric triple-source thirteen-level topology that utilizes only ten unidirectional switches and three isolated DC sources. A level-shifted pulse width modulation (LS-PWM) scheme is adopted to generate the required switching signals. The performance of the proposed configuration is investigated through MATLAB/Simulink simulations, thermal assessment using the PLECS platform, and experimental verification using a DSP-based prototype. The developed inverter produces thirteen distinct voltage levels while maintaining a low total standing voltage (TSV) of 4 p.u., thereby reducing switch voltage stress and enhancing device utilization. Thermal analysis demonstrates a peak efficiency of 96.8%, whereas the multilevel output structure contributes to improved harmonic performance and superior output voltage quality. The close agreement between simulation and experimental results validates the effectiveness, reliability, and practical applicability of the proposed topology for renewable energy systems and medium-voltage power conversion applications.