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Comparison of 1-phase cascaded & MLDCLI with PWM contol methods
Sri sai institute of technology & science 1
OBJECTIVE:
Multilevel inverter offers several advantages compare to the conventional
bridge inverter in terms lower dv/dt stresses better fundamental output voltages
and THD features. This project presents comparison of cascaded H-Bridge and
multilevel dc link inverter (MLDCLI) using only a dc power sources.
A MLDCLI can be constructed by the series connection half and full bridge cells
each having its own dc source. A multi level voltage source inverter can be
formed by connecting an MLDCL with a single bridge inverter. The MLDCLI
provides a dc voltage with the shape of staircase with or without pulse width
modulation (PWM) to the bridge inverter, which in turn alternates the polarity to
produce an ac voltage. Compared with cascaded H-Bridge multilevel inverter, the
MLDCLI can significantly reduce the switch count as the number of voltage levels
increased beyond five for a given number of voltage levels, m, the required
number of active switches is 2(m-1) for the existing multilevel inverter but is m+3
for the MLDCLI inverters.
This project presents the performance of a seven level MLDCLI based on sine
and space vector PWM control technique. Performance analysis is made based
on the results of simulation study conducted on the operation of the MLDCLI
using MATLAB/SIMULINK. The performance parameters chosen in the work
include the waveform pattern harmonic spectrum, fundamental value and total
harmonic distortion (THD) of the single phase MLDCLI.

CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction:
Power electronics has gone through intense technological evolution
during the last three decades. It is a branch of electrical engineering that is
concerned with the conversion and control of electrical power for various
applications such as industrial, commercial, residential, and aerospace
environments. . The utility system usually generates, transmits, and distributes
power at a fixed frequency (50 or 60Hz), and fixed voltage is maintained at the
consumers terminal. Some residential and industrial applications such as
adjustable speed AC drives, induction heating, stand by air craft power supplies,
UPS for computers needs three phase adjustable AC power source with
controllable frequency and voltage. A power electronics system interfaces
between the utility system and industrial loads to satisfy this need. For which we
need new types of semi conductor power devices such as IGBT’s (with voltage
rating as high as 3.3KV and current rating 100A) and IGCT’s (4.6 KV and 300A)
with attractive switching characteristics and high power handling capacity. As a
result of this evolution , today most of these industrial and residential loads are
connected to the AC power line through cost effective power converters circuits
which enhance the over all efficiency, performance and reliability.
Among all the modern power electronics
converters, the voltage source inverters (VSI) is the simplest and most widely
used device with power ratings ranging from fractions of kilowatt to megawatt
level. It converts fixed DC voltage to AC voltage with controllable frequency and
magnitude.

1.2 Need for Pulse Width Modulation:
A power electronic inverter is essentially a device for creating a
variable AC Magnitude and Frequency output from a DC input. The frequency of
the output voltage or current is readily established by simply switching for equal
time periods to the positive and negative DC bus and appropriately adjusting the
half cycle period. However the variable frequency ability is nearly always
accompanied by a corresponding need to adjust the amplitude of fundamental
component of the output waveform as the frequency changes, i.e., voltage
control. One of the mostly widely utilized strategies for controlling the AC output
of power electronic converters is the technique known as pulse width modulation
(PWM), This varies the duty cycle of the inverter switches at a high frequency to
achieve a target average low- frequency output voltage or current.
Modulation theory has been a major research area in power
electronic for over three decades and continues to attract considerable attention
and interest. On the other hand, there have been a number of clear trends in the
development of PWM concepts and strategies since the 1970’s, addressing the
main objectives of reduced harmonic distortion and increased out put magnitudes
for a given switching frequency and the development of modulation strategies to
suit different converter topologies.
While there has been a wealth of research investigating the
modulation and control of lower power DC/AC converters. The actual PWM
process for these converters is usually a comparison between a reference
waveform and a sawtooth or a triangular carrier waveform. Since voltage source
inverters employ switching devices with finite turn-on time and turn-off time
characteristics, inverter switching losses are inevitable. Because the switching
losses strongly affect the energy efficiency, size and reliability of an inverter, a
modulation method with high performance is desirable. Therefore, the modulation
method choice is significantly important.
Among the variety of modulation methods, the carrier based PWM
methods can operate with high switching frequency and they offer high waveform
quality and implementation advantages.

The first important contribution in the carrier based PWM area was
done by Schönung and Stemmler in 1964 with the development of the sinusoidal
PWM (SPWM) method. In this method the sinusoidal reference waveform of
each phase and a periodic triangular carrier wave are compared and the
intersection points determine the commutation instants of the associated inverter
leg switches. However, this method has a poor voltage linearity range, which is at
most 78.5 % of the six-step voltage fundamental component value, hence poor
voltage utilization. Therefore, the zero sequence signal injection techniques that
extend the SPWM linearity range have been introduced for isolated neutral load
applications which comprise the large majority of AC loads. In most three phase
AC motor drive and utility interface applications the neutral point is isolated and
no neutral current path exists. In such applications in the triangle intersection
implementations any zero sequence signal can be injected to the reference
modulation waves. K.G. King was the first researcher to utilize this concept in a
voltage source inverter. He realized that a three phase varies the duty cycle of
the inverter switches at a high frequency to achieve a target average low-
frequency output voltage or current.
Modulation theory has been a major research area in power
electronic for over three decades and continues to attract considerable attention
and interest. On the other hand, there have been a number of clear trends in the
development of PWM concepts and strategies since the 1970’s, addressing the
main objectives of reduced harmonic distortion and increased out put magnitudes
for a given switching frequency and the development of modulation strategies to
suit different converter topologies.
While there has been a wealth of research investigating the
modulation and control of lower power DC/AC converters. The actual PWM
process for these converters is usually a comparison between a reference
waveform and a sawtooth or a triangular carrier waveform. Since voltage source
inverters employ switching devices with finite turn-on time and turn-off time
characteristics, inverter switching losses are inevitable.

Because the switching losses strongly affect the energy efficiency,
size and reliability of an inverter, a modulation method with high performance is
desirable. Therefore, the modulation method choice is significantly important.
Among the variety of modulation methods, the carrier based PWM
methods can operate with high switching frequency and they offer high waveform
quality and implementation advantages. The first important contribution in the
carrier based PWM area was done by Schönung and Stemmler in 1964 with the
development of the sinusoidal PWM (SPWM) method. In this method the
sinusoidal reference waveform of each phase and a periodic triangular carrier
wave are compared and the intersection points determine the commutation
instants of the associated inverter leg switches. However, this method has a poor
voltage linearity range, which is at most 78.5 % of the six-step voltage
fundamental component value, hence poor voltage utilization. Therefore, the zero
sequence signal injection techniques that extend the SPWM linearity range have
been introduced for isolated neutral load applications which comprise the large
majority of AC loads. In most three phase AC motor drive and utility interface
applications the neutral point is isolated and no neutral current path exists. In
such applications in the triangle intersection implementations any zero sequence
signal can be injected to the reference modulation waves. K.G. King was the first
researcher to utilize this concept in a voltage source inverter. He realized that a
three phase.
1.3 Principle of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM):
Fig. 1.1 shows circuit model of a single-phase inverter with a center-taped
grounded DC bus, and Fig 1.2 illustrates principle of pulse width modulation.

Fig.1.1 Circuit model of a single-phase inverter
Fig.1.2 Pulse width modulation
As depicted in Fig. 1.2, the inverter output voltage is determined in the
following:
When Vcontrol > Vtri, VA0 = Vdc/2
When Vcontrol < Vtri, VA0 = −Vdc/2
Also, the inverter output voltage has the following features:
PWM frequency is the same as the frequency of Vtri
Amplitude is controlled by the peak value of Vcontrol
Fundamental frequency is controlled by the frequency of Vcontrol

Modulation index (m) is defined as:
2
)( 1
dc
AO
tri
control
V
Vpeakof
V
V
m
Where (VAO)1 : fundamental frequency component of VA0
1.4 Pulse width modulation techniques:
The commonly used PWM techniques are :
1) single pulse width modulation
2) multiple pulse width modulation
3) sinusoidal pulse width modulation
The SPWM, which is most commonly used, suffers from certain drawbacks like
low fundamental output voltage. The other techniques that offer improved
performances are:
1. Trapezoidal modulation
2. Stair case modulation
3. Stepped modulation
4. Delta modulation
The above PWM techniques are applicable to three-phase inverters. However
the following techniques are commonly used for three-phase inverters.
1) third harmonic injected PWM
2) space vector modulation (SVM)
1.5 Comparison of PWM Techniques:
Any modulation scheme can be used to create the variable
frequency, variable voltage ac waveforms. The sinusoidal PWM compares a
high frequency triangular carrier with three sinusoidal reference signals, known
as the modulating signals, to generate the gating signals for the inverter
switches. This is basically a analog domain technique and is commonly used in

power conversion with both analog and digital implementation. In contrast to
sinusoidal technique the space vector method does not consider each of the
three modulating voltages as separate identity. The three voltages are
simultaneously taken into account within a two-dimensional reference frame (d-q
plane) and the complex reference vector is processed as a single unit. The SVM
has the advantages of the lower harmonics and a higher modulation index in
addition to the features of complete digital implementation by a single-chip
microprocessor. Because of its flexibility of manipulation SVM has increasing
applications in power converters and motor control.
1.6 Multi Level Inverters (MLI):
In recent years, industry has begun to demand high power equipment,
which now reaches the megawatt level. Controlled AC drives in the mega watt
range are usually connected to the medium-voltage network. Today it is hard to
connect a single power semi-conductor switch directly to medium voltage grids
.For these reasons a new family of multilevel inverters has emerged as the
solution for working with high voltage levels[1]-[3].
Multilevel inverters include an array of power semiconductors and
capacitor voltage sources, the output of which generates voltages with stepped
waveforms with less distortion, less switching frequency, higher efficiency, lower
voltage devices and better electro-magnetic compatibility. The commutation of
the switches permits the addition of the capacitor voltages, which reach high
voltages at the output, while the power semiconductors must withstand only
reduced voltages. Multilevel inverter structures have been developed to
overcome shortcomings in solid-state switching device ratings so they can be
applied to higher voltage systems. The multilevel voltage source inverters unique
structure allows them to reach high voltages with low harmonics without the use
of transformers. The general function of the multilevel inverter is to synthesize a
desired AC voltage from several levels of DC voltages. The advent of the
transform less multilevel inverters topology has brought forth various pulse width
modulation (PWM) schemes as a means to control the switching of the active

devices in each of the multiple voltage levels in the inverter. Multilevel power
conversion technology is a very rapidly growing area of power electronics with
good potential for further development. The most attractive application of this
technology is in the medium-to-high-voltage range, and includes motor drives,
power distribution, and power conditioning applications. In general multilevel
inverter can be viewed as voltage synthesizers, in which the high output voltage
is synthesized from many discrete smaller voltage levels. The main advantages
of this approach are summarized as follows:
 They can generate output voltages with extremely low distortion and lower
dv/dt.
 They draw input current with very low distortion.
 They can operate with a lower switching frequency.
 Their efficiency is high (>98%) because of the minimum switching
frequency.
 They are suitable for medium to high power applications.
 Multilevel waveform naturally limits the problem of large voltage transients
1.7 Applications of Multi Level inverters:
1. High Power Applications.
2. Where ever need sinusoidal supply, this type of inverter circuit can be
implemented.
3. To improve the harmonic characteristics, a seven-level inverter could be
modulated by a multilevel carrier technique such as five-level carrier
modulation.

1.8 Total Harmonic Distortion (THD):
The total harmonic distortion, or THD, of a signal is a
measurement of the harmonic distortion present and is defined as the ratio of the
sum of the powers of all harmonic components to the power of the Fundamental
frequency. Lesser THD, for example, allows the components in a loudspeaker,
amplifier or microphone or other equipment to make a violin sound like a violin
when played back, and not a cello or simply a distorted noise.
In most cases, the transfer function of a system is linear and time-
invariant. When a signal passes through a non-linear device, additional content is
added at the harmonics of the original frequencies. THD is a measurement of the
extent of that distortion. The measurement is most commonly the ratio of the sum
of the powers of all harmonic frequencies to the fundamental frequency power.
For a voltage signal, for instance, the ratio of the squares of the RMS voltages is
equivalent to the power ratio; In this calculation, Vn means the RMS voltage of
harmonic n, where n=1 is the fundamental harmonic. One can also calculate
THD using all harmonics.
The THD, which is a measure of closeness in shape between a
waveform and its fundamental component, is defined as
2
1
,...3,2
21
n
n
n
V
V
THD
1.9 Objectives:
The main objectives of this thesis is
Different topologies of multilevel inverters are studied.
Different PWM techniques are studied.
SPWM and Modified reference with triangular carriers PWM techniques
are selected by considering their advantages.
For the voltage source inverters(VSI) pulses are generated using SPWM
and Modified reference with triangular carriers .

Influence of these PWM techniques on the performance of fundamental
output voltage and total harmonic distortion (THD) is discussed, through
simulation study.
A real challenge in the generation of PWM waveforms is to
reduce the harmonic distortion in the line currents along with the simultaneous
reduction of switching losses in multilevel inverters. The main contribution of this
thesis is to come out with a modulation of multilevel inverter based on SPWM,
Modified reference with triangular carriers PWM techniques approach which
results in better voltage waveforms and improved THD with fundamental output
voltage performance. The main focus of this thesis will be on the improved THD
in medium and high power applications.

CHAPTER-2
MULTI LEVEL INVERTERS

2.1 Multilevel Concept:
This passage has the aim to introduce to the general
principle of multilevel behavior. Figure1.1 helps to understand how multilevel
converters work. The leg of a 2-level converter is represented in Figure 2.1(a) in
which the semiconductor switches have been substituted with an ideal switch.
The voltage output can assume only two values: 0 or E . Considering Figure
2.1(b), the voltage output of a 3-level inverter leg can assume three values: 0 , E
or 2E . In Figure 2.1(c) a generalized m-level inverter leg is presented. Even in
this circuit, the semiconductor switches have been substituted with an ideal
switch which can provide n different voltage levels to the output. In this short
explanation some simplifications have been introduced. In particular, it is
considered that the DC voltage sources have the same value and are series
connected. In practice there are no such limits, then the voltage levels can be
different. This introduces a further possibility which can be useful in multiphase
inverters, as it will be shown in the following.
A three-phase inverter composed by m-level legs will be
considered for the analysis. Obviously the number of phase-to-neutral voltage
output levels is m. The number k of the line-to-line voltage levels is given by
(2.1).
K = 2m-1 (2.1)
Considering a star connected load, the number p of phase voltage levels is given
by (2.2).
P = 2k-1 (2.2)

For example, considering a 5-level inverter leg, it is possible to obtain 9 lines-to-
line voltage level (4 negative levels, 4 positive levels and 0) and 17 phase line
voltage levels.
Fig.2.1 Multilevel concept for (a) two level (b) three level and
(c) m- levelive levels, 4 positive levels and 0) and 17 phase voltage levels
Higher the number of levels gives better quality of output voltage which is
generated by a greater number of steps with a better approximation of a
sinusoidal wave. So, increasing the number of levels gives a benefit to the
harmonic distortion of the generated voltage, but a more complex control system
is required, when compared to the 2-level inverter.
Fig.2.2 Example multilevel sinusoidal approximation using 11-levels.

Figure 2.2 illustrates an example multilevel waveform. Using multiple levels the
multilevel inverter can yield operating characteristics such as high voltages, high
power levels, and high efficiency without use of transformers. The multilevel
inverter combines individual DC sources at specified times to yield a sinusoidal
resemblance; by using more steps to synthesize the sinusoidal waveform, the
waveform approaches the desired sinusoid and the total harmonic distortion
approaches zero.
2.2 Multilevel Inverters Performance:
The limit of standard three-phase converters is related to the
maximum power. Which can be delivered to the load, which is related to the
maximum voltage and current of a component. Furthermore, higher is the power
of a switch lower is the switching frequency. An initial solution to overcome this
problem was to connect several switches in series or in parallel. The series
connection of two or more semiconductor devices is really difficult due to the
impossibility to perfectly synchronize their commutations. In fact, if one
component switches off faster than the others it will blow up because it will be
subjected to the entire voltage drop designed for the series. Instead, parallel
connection is slightly less complicated because of the property of MOSFETs and
more recent IGBTs to increase their internal resistance with the increment of
junction temperature. When a component switches on faster semiconductors
block the entire dc voltage, but share the load current. Several combinational
designs have also emerged some involving cascading the fundamental
topologies. These designs can create higher power quality for a given number of
semiconductor devices than the fundamental topologies alone due to a
multiplying effect of the number of levels.

Fig 2.3 Multilevel inverter topologies.
The most actively developed of multilevel topologies are listed in
figure 2.3.This Proposed presents a new class of multilevel inverters based on an
MLDCL and a bridge inverter. Compared with the existing multilevel inverters, the
new MLDCL inverters can significantly reduce the switch count as well as the
number of gate drivers as the number of voltage levels increases. For a given
number of voltage levels m , the new inverter requires m+3 active switches,
roughly half the number of switches, clamping diodes, and voltage-splitting
capacitors in the diode-clamped configuration, or clamping capacitors in the
flying-capacitor configuration. Simulation and experimental results are included to
verify the operating principle of the proposed MLDCL inverters.
MULTILEVEL
TOPOLOGIES
DIODE CLAMPED
MULTILEVEL
INVERTERS
FLYING-CAPACITOR
MULTILEVEL
INVERTERS
CASCADED
MULTILEVEL
INVERTERS
(PROPOSED)
MULTILEVEL
DC LINK INVERTER

CHAPTER-3
Comparison of Multilevel
Inverters

Table 1 compares the power component requirements per phase
leg among the three multilevel voltage source inverter mentioned above. Table 1
show that the number of main switches and main diodes, needed by the inverters
to achieve the same number of voltage levels, is the same. Clamping diodes do
not need in flying-capacitor and cascaded-inverter configuration, while balancing
capacitors do not need in diode-clamped and cascaded-inverter configuration.
Implicitly, the multilevel converter using cascaded-inverters requires the least
number of components.
Converter
Type Diode
clamped
Flying
capacitor
Cascaded
Inverter
(proposed)
Multi level Dc
Link inverter
Main
Switching
devices
(m-1)*2 (m-1)*2 (m-1)*2 m+3
Main diodes (m-1)*2 (m-1)*2 (m-1)*2 m+3
Clamping
diodes
(m-1)* (m-2) 0 0 0
Dc bus
capacitors
(m-1) (m-1) (m-1)/2 (m-1)/2
Balancing
capacitors
0 ( m-1)* (m-
2)/2
0 0
Table.1 Comparison of Multilevel Inverters
Another advantage of cascaded-inverter is circuit layout flexibility.
Modularized circuit layout and packaging is possible because each level has the
same structure, and there are no extra clamping diodes or voltage balancing
capacitors. The number of output voltage levels can be easily adjusted by adding
or removing the full-bridge cells.

3.1 Cascaded Multilevel Inverter
The last structure introduced in this thesis is a multilevel inverter,
which uses cascaded inverters with separate dc sources (SDCSs). The general
function of this multilevel inverter is the same as that of the other two previous
inverters. The multilevel inverter using cascaded-inverter with SDCSs
synthesizes a desired voltage from several independent sources of dc voltages,
which may be obtained from either batteries, fuel cells, or solar cells. This
configuration recently becomes very popular in ac power supply and adjustable
speed drive applications. This new inverter can avoid extra clamping diodes or
voltage balancing capacitors.
3.1.1 Principle of operation of Cascaded 3LI:
To produce a staircase output voltage, let us consider only one
phase of the three level inverter as shown in the Fig 3.1
Fig.3.1 .1 one phase of cascaded three level H-bridge inverter

Fig.3.1.2 output waveform for 1-phase 3MLI
The ac terminal voltages of different level inverters are
connected in series. By different combinations of the four switches, Sa1, Sa2 , Sa1
1
and Sa2
1
, each inverter level can generate three different voltage outputs, +Vdc, -
Vdc, and zero as shown in fig2.4(c). The ac output of each of the different level of
full-bridge inverters are connected in series such that the synthesized voltage
waveform is the sum of the inverter outputs. Note that the number of output
phase voltage levels is defined in different way from those of two previous
inverters. In this topology, the number of output phase voltage levels is defined
by m = 2s+1, where s is the number of dc sources. Table 2 shows the
relationship between the allowed switches configurations and the output of a 3-
level cascaded inverter.

Table.2 Switching state for cascaded 3LI
Advantages:
The series structure allows a scalable, modularized circuit layout
and packaging since each bridge has the same structure.
Requires the least number of components considering there are no
extra clamping diodes or voltage balancing capacitors.
Switching redundancy for inner voltage levels is possible because the
phase voltage output is the sum of each bridge’s output.
Potential of electrical shock is reduced due to the separate dc sources.
OUTPUT
VOLTAGE
Vao
SWITCHING SEQUENCE
Sa1 Sa2 Sa1
1
Sa2
1
0
1 1 0 0
0 0 1 1
Vdc 1 0 0 1
-Vdc 0 1 1 0

3.1.2 OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF PROPOSED 7 LEVEL
CASCADED INVERTER
The configuration and the principle of operation of the proposed inverter is
given.
Figure 3.2.1(a) circuit diagram for single phase7 level cascaded inverter

Figure.3.2.1 (b) output wave form of 7 level cascaded inverter
In the case of seven level cascaded the ac output voltage at each level can be
obtained in the same as in normal 2 level manner. The AC terminal voltages of
different level inverters are connected in series. By different combinations of the
six switchesS1, S4,S5,S8,S9,and S12 each inverter level can generate four
different voltage outputs Vdc,2Vdc,3Vdc , and zero as shown in figure. The ac
output of each of the different level of full-bridge inverters are connected in series
such that the synthesized voltage waveform is the sum of the inverter outputs..
In this topology, the number of output phase voltage levels is defined by
m = 2s+1, where s is the number of dc sources.
Advantages:
The series structure allows a scalable, modularized circuit layout
and packaging since each bridge has the same structure.
Requires the least number of components considering there are no
extra clamping diodes or voltage balancing capacitors.
Switching redundancy for inner voltage levels is possible because the
phase voltage output is the sum of each bridge’s output.
Potential of electrical shock is reduced due to the separate dc sources of
the table given below represents the switching pattern developed for the
proposed inverter.

Output
voltage S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S11 S12
0vdc 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
vdc 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1
2vdc 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1
3vdc 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1
-vdc 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0
-2vdc 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0
-3vdc 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0
Table .3 Switching sequence for single phase 7 level cascaded inverter
3.3 Generalized m-level Cascaded Multi Level Inverter:
A m- level Cascaded H bridge inverter consists of series connected (m-1)/2
number of cells in each phase. Each cell consists of single phase H bridge
inverter with separate dc source. There are four active devices in each cell and
can produce three levels 0, Vdc/2 and –Vdc/2. Higher voltage levels can be
obtained by connecting these cell in cascade and the phase voltage Van is the
sum of voltages of individual cells, Van = V1 + V2 + V3 + V4 +….. + VN. For a
three phase system, the output of these cascaded inverters can be connected
either in Y or Δ configuration.

Figure: 3.3.1 three phase m-level wye-configuration cascaded inverter

3.4 OPERATING PRINCIPLE OF PROPOSED 7 LEVEL
CASCADED INVERTER
Figure 3.4 (a) circuit diagram for 7 level cascaded inverter
The proposed single-phase seven-level MLDCL inverter involves
various steps of operation. The configuration and the principle of operation of the
proposed inverter given

Figure: 3.4(b) output waveform for 7 levelmdcl inverter
Compared with the existing multi level inverters, the new MLDCL
inverters can significantly reduce the switch count as well as the no of gate
drivers as the no of voltage levels increases. For a given no of voltage levels m,
the new inverter requires m+3 active switches, roughfly half of the no of switches,
clamping diodes, and voltage-splitting capacitors in the diode clamped
configuration or clamping capacitors in the flying capacitor configuration.
Simulation and experimental results are included to verify the operating principle
of the proposed MLDCL inverters.

3.4.1Generalized Circuit for Single Phase M Level MLDCL
Inverter:
Figure 3.4(c) Generalized circuit for dc link inverter
3.5 COMPARISION BETWEEN CASCADED AND MULTILEVEL
DC-LINK INVERTER SWITCHES:

Comparison of the Proposed MLDCL Inverters and the Existing
Counterparts. From the previous discussions, it is demonstrated that the
proposed MLDCL inverters can significantly reduce the component count.
Compared with their existing counter parts for a given number of output voltage
levels m. It can be seen that roughly half the number of the components can be
eliminated as m increases.

CHAPTER -4
MODULATION STRATEGIES FOR
MULTILEVEL INVERTER

It is generally accepted that the performance of an inverter, with any
switching strategies, can be related to the harmonic contents of its output
voltage. Power electronics researchers have always studied many novel
control techniques to reduce harmonics in such waveforms. Up-to-date,
there are many techniques, which are applied to inverter topologies. In
multilevel technology, there are several well-known modulation strategies as
follows:
Sinusoidal or ―Sub harmonic‖ Natural Pulse Width Modulation
(SPWM)
Modified Reference Modulated Technique
Modified Carrier with Modified Reference Modulated Technique
4.1 Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM):
Sinusoidal pulse width modulation is one of the primitive
techniques, which are used to suppress harmonics presented in the quasi-square
wave. Note that only triangular carrier is considered in this case. Fig. 4.1
illustrates a simple idea to generate a SPWM waveform.
Fig.4.1 Three-phase two-level SPWM with a triangular-carrier

In multilevel case, PWM techniques with three different disposed
triangular carriers were proposed as follows:
Alternate phase disposition (APOD) – every carrier waveform is in out of
phase with its neighbor carrier by 180°.
Phase opposition disposition (POD) – All carrier waveforms above zero
reference are in phase and are 180° out of phase with those below zero.
Phase disposition (PD) - All carrier waveforms are in phase.
This thesis is focused only on all the carriers are in phase (Phase disposition)
4.1.2 SPWM signal for seven-level inverters:
Fig.4.1.2 SPWM with triangular multilevel carriers
4.2 Modified Reference Modulated Technique:
In the SPWM scheme for two-level inverters, each reference
phase voltage is compared with the triangular carrier and the individual pole
voltages are generated, independent of each other. To obtain the maximum
possible peak amplitude of the fundamental phase voltage, in linear modulation,
a common mode voltage, Voffset1, is added to the reference phase
voltages[8,1], where the magnitude of Voffset1 is given by
2
)( minmax
1
VV
Voffset --------- (4.1)

In eq 4.1, Vmax is the maximum magnitude of the three sampled
reference phase voltages, while Vmin is the minimum magnitude of the three
sampled reference phase voltages, in a sampling interval. The addition of the
common mode voltage, Voffset1, results in the active inverter switching vectors
being centred in a sampling interval, making the SPWM technique equivalent to
the modified reference PWM technique [3]. Equation 4.1 is based on the fact
that, in a sampling interval, the reference phase which has lowest magnitude
(termed the min-phase) crosses the triangular carrier first, and causes the first
transition in the inverter switching state. While the reference phase, which has
the maximum magnitude (termed the max-phase), crosses the carrier last and
causes the last switching transition in the inverter switching states in a two-level
modified reference PWM scheme. Thus the switching periods of the active
vectors can be determined from the (max-phase and min-phase) sampled
reference phase voltage amplitudes in a two-level inverter scheme. The SPWM
technique, for multilevel inverters, involves comparing the reference phase
voltage signals with a number of symmetrical level-shifted carrier waves for PWM
generation. It has been shown that for an m-level inverter, (m-1) level-shifted
carrier waves are required for comparison with the sinusoidal references [3].
Because of the level-shifted multicarriers as shown in (Fig. 4.4), the first crossing
(termed the first-cross) of the reference phase voltage cannot always be the min-
phase. Similarly, the last crossing (termed the third-cross) of the reference phase
voltage cannot always be the max-phase. Thus the offset voltage computation,
based on equation 4.1 is not sufficient to centre the middle inverter switching
vectors, in a multilevel PWM scheme during a sampling period Ts . In this thesis,
a simple technique to determine the offset voltage (to be added to the reference
phase voltage for PWM generation for the entire modulation range) is presented,
based only on the sampled amplitudes of the reference phase voltages. The idea
behind the proposed scheme is to determine the sampled reference phase, from
the three sampled reference phases, which crosses the triangular first (first-
cross) and the reference phase which crosses the triangular carrier last (third-
cross). Once the first-cross phase and third-cross phase are identified, the

principles of offset calculation of equation 4.1, for the two-level inverter, can
easily be adapted for the multilevel modified reference PWM generation scheme.
The proposed modified reference PWM technique presents a
simple way to determine the time instants at which the three reference phases
cross the triangular carriers. These time instants are sorted to find the offset
voltage to be added to the reference phase voltages for modified reference PWM
generation for multilevel inverters for the entire linear modulation range, so that
the middle inverter switching vectors are centred (during a sampling interval), as
in the case of the conventional two-level modified reference PWM scheme. The
sine-triangle method for a seven-level inverter. phase modulation signal is
compared with six (n-1 in general) triangle waveforms.
The N – 1 = 6 modified carrier waveforms are arranged so that every
modified carrier is in phase.
The converter switches to + 3Vdc / 2 when the reference is greater than all
the carrier waveforms.
The converter switches to Vdc when the reference is less than the
uppermost carrier waveform and greater than all the other carrier
waveforms.
The converter switches to Vdc / 2 when the reference is less than the two
uppermost carrier waveforms and greater than all other carriers.
The converter switches to 0 when the reference is less than the three
uppermost carrier waveform and greater than three lowermost carriers.
The converter switches to - Vdc/2 when the reference is greater than the
lowermost carrier waveform and lesser than all other carriers.
The converter switches to -Vdc when the reference is greater than the two
uppermost carrier waveforms and less than all other carriers.
The converter switches to -3Vdc / 2 when the reference is lesser than all
the carrier waveforms.

4.2.2 Modified Reference Modulated waveform for seven-level
Inverters:
Fig.4.2.2 modified reference with triangular carriers for 7-level inverters
4.3 Modulation techniques for m-level multilevel inverters with
triangular carriers with modified carriers:
The modified reference PWM, proposed for a five-level inverter, in the last
Section, can be easily extended to any m-level PWM generation. In the SPWM
scheme for an m level inverter, the reference signals are compared with (m-1)
level shifted carriers [3].The triangular carriers and modified carriers with the
modified reference signals, for an m-level PWM scheme are shown in Figure
4.8(a) and figure 4.9(a) for m is odd, and in Fig. 4.8(b) and fig 4.9(b) for m is
even respectively. The (m-1) triangular carriers and (m-1) modified carriers are
compared with modified reference phase voltages as shown in Figures 4.8(a),
4.8(b), 4.9(a) and 4.9(b) respectively . A carrier index is defined to designate the
carrier regions in which the reference phase voltages lie during the sampling
interval under consideration. The carrier index is as shown in Fig. 4.8(a) when n
is odd. The carrier index for the top carrier is 1, and it increases in steps of 1
towards the bottom carriers. The carrier index for the lowest carrier is equal to
(m–1).

fig.a
fig.b
Fig 4.3 Modified reference with triangular multilevel carriers
(a) m-level PWM scheme where m is odd
(b) m-level PWM scheme where m is even

CHAPTER-5
SIMULATION DIAGRAMS

SINGLE PHASE 7-LEVEL CASCADED MULTILEVEL INVERTER
Figure 5.1 Single phase 7-Level Cascaded Multilevel Inverter

SINGLE PHASE 7-LEVEL MULTILEVEL DC LINK INVERTER
Figure 5.2 Single phase 7-Level Multilevel DC Link Inverter

CHAPTER- 6
SIMULATION RESULTS

SIMULATION RESULTS:
 Seven Level Cascaded MLI for 1–Ф Sinusoidal Pulse Width
Modulation (SPWM):
Fig. 6.1line voltage of Seven level Cascaded MLI
Fig. 6.2 THD of SPWM for seven Level cascaded MLI

Seven Level MLDCLI for 1–Ф Sinusoidal Pulse Width
Modulation (SPWM):
Fig.6.3 line voltage of seven level MLDCLI
Fig. 6.4 THD of SPWM for seven Level MLDCI

Comparison of results for single phase :
Input voltage = 300 Volts
Switching frequency = 5000 Hertzs
Modulation index = 0.86666
PWM technique
Cascaded 7LI Multilevel DCL 7LI
Fundamental
Output
Voltage(V)
THD
(%)
Fundamental
Output
Voltage(V)
THD
(%)
Sinusoidal PWM 253.4 23.13 268.4 22.01

CHAPTER -7
CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE:
Conclusion:
A summary of THD and fundamental output voltage for various
multilevel inverter topologies with their control strategies are presented. 7-Level
Cascaded inverter and 7-level D.C link inverters were simulated for SPWM and
modified SVPWM with triangular carriers. And it is concluded that 7-level dc-link
inverter with a modified SVPWM with triangular carriers has given good
fundamental output voltage (268.4 V) with less THD (22.01%).
Future Scope:
The single phase proposed Multilevel Inverter can be extended
to three phase proposed Multilevel Inverter and output of three phase MLI can fed as
an input source to a three phase Induction Motor.

CHAPTER-8
REFERENCES

REFERENCES
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