Title: Multi level inverters using

cascaded H-bridge.

Guide:
Dr. Y R Manjunath
Chairman
Electrical Engg. Dept.

Batch Members:
Chinmayi N S
(11GAEE5016)
Ranjan T R
(11GAEE5062)
1

Introduction
Power inverters convert electrical energy of DC form into that of
AC.
It synthesizes the desired ac output waveform from several dc
sources.
This project focuses on improving the efficiency of the multilevel
inverter and quality of output voltage waveform.
A Seven level cascaded H-bridge inverter with reduced number of
switches is implemented for the same.
Fundamental Switching scheme and Selective Harmonics
Elimination will be implemented to reduce the Total Harmonics
Distortion (THD).

Literature survey
The conventional technology used for inverters typically consists of
either square-wave or pwm inverters. [1]
The square wave type is the simplest method to produce AC from DC.

However, it suffers from low frequency harmonics which causes

difficulty in filtering out the noise to prevent these harmonics to return
back to the primary side of the transformer.[2]
3

Literature survey(Contd)

The pwm inverter, forces the harmonics to be way up higher than the
fundamental (line) frequency.
Thus, easing up the filtering requirement of the inverter.

However, the major drawback of the pwm inverter is the increased

switching losses due to the frequent switching actions of the electronic
switches.[3]
4

Literature survey(Contd)
Multi-level inverter can avoid extra clamping diodes or voltage
balancing capacitors.[8][9]
The converter topology used here is based on the series connection
of single phase inverters with separate DC sources . [10]

But it requires more number of switches.[11]

Sl.
no

Author
name

Publisher

Method

Advantages/
Disadvantages

1.

Samuel
Muehleck

California
Polytechnic State
University

Square wave
type inverter

Noise, problems of filtering

2.

Jim Doucette
Dan Eggleston
Jeremy Shaw

N E CAM S I D

PWM inverters

Very good sine output /

Switching losses

3.

Muhammad
Ashraf Bin
Zulkepple

Universiti Teknikal
Malaysia Melaka

Sinusoidal Pulse
Width
Modulation

Harmonics will increase the

working frequency

4.

Dr.K.Sathiyase
kar

International
Journal of
Engineering Trends
and Technology

Interconnected
H-Bridge
Inverter

Less complex control ckt /

More number of switches

5.

Prof. Preeti V.
Kapoor
Mamata N.
Kokate

International
Flying capacitor
Journal of
multilevel
Innovative
inverter
Research & Studies

Balancing of capacitors is
difficult

Aim
This project proposes an improved version of the H-bridge inverter
by increasing the number of steps per one period of the desired frequency
with the use of electronic switches. This project aims at reduction of
harmonic distortion with appropriate techniques.

Objectives
The new topology has the added advantage of reduced number of
devices compared to conventional multi level inverter.
It can be extended to any number of levels.
No Electromagnetic Interference(EMI) and input current with low
distortion.

Methodology:

Previous method

Analog PWM control requires

the generation reference and
carrier signals that feed into a
comparator.
The reference signal is
sinusoidal.
When the carrier signal exceeds
the reference, the comparator
output signal is at one state, and
when the reference is at a higher
voltage, the output is at its
second state.

Disadvantages

It uses the normal inverter that is VSI (but without the multilevel
part)so the power injection is done but the harmonics remain the
same.
The regulation of the system is low.
The overall efficiency of the circuit is less compared to the
proposed system.

Proposal of the new concept

An H-bridge converter is a switching configuration composed of four
switches in an arrangement that resemble an H.
It is a compromise between a complicated, but high quality PWM
inverter, and a simple, but low quality square wave inverter.
By controlling different switches in the bridge, positive, negative
or zero potential voltage can be placed across a load.
Modes of operation.
1. Powering mode.
2. Free wheeling mode.
3. Regenerative mode.

10

Selective Harmonics Elimination Stepped Waveform (SHESW)

method will be used to eliminate the lower order harmonics.

11

Fundamental switching scheme can be used to control the power

electronic switches. Its corresponding Fourier series Equation is,
V (t) = ( 4Vdc/) [cos (n 1)+ cos (n 2) + ..+cos (n s)] sin (nt)

where n = 1, 3, 5, 7, ...

The harmonic reduction is achieved by selecting appropriate

switching angles given by,
cos ( 1)+ cos ( 2)+cos ( 3)+cos ( 4) = 3ma
cos(51)+cos (52)+cos(53)+cos(54) = 0
cos (71)+cos (72)+cos (73)+cos (74) = 0

where modulation index ma is given by ma=m/s, 0 ma 1

and m=V1/(4Vdc/).
Here 1, 2, 3, 4 are the firing angles in degrees.
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Advantages:
Harmonic

content decreases .
Higher efficiency.
The regulation of the inverter is good.
Switching losses can be avoided.
Reduction in number of switches.
Applications:
Power

systems(substation, generating station and distribution

station).
Reactive power compensator.
Back to Back intertie.
Utility compatible adjustable speed drives.
13

Update

The simulation for the proposed single phase and three phase
inverters have been achieved successfully with both R-load and
RL-load using Simulink software. The screenshots of the same
have been shared here.
Single phase inv.

Single phase output waveform

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Simulation results
(Contd) Three phase inv.

Three phase output waveform

Firing circuit waveforms

15

Conclusion:

The fundamental switching scheme with a microprocessor.

Simple additions such as circuit protection and a closed loop
control could greatly improve the performance of this project.
The conduction losses will be less, if number of switches is
reduced.
The size of the multilevel inverter will be compact than other
inverters.
The overall cost will be reduced by reducing the number of main
switches.

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References:
[1] Power Electronics Circuits, Devices & Applications , Muhammad H. Rashid, Third Edition, Prentice Hall
India.
[2] Design and Simulation of Interconnected H-Bridge Inverter, Samuel Muehleck, California Polytechnic State
University, San Luis Obispo, June, 2012.
[3] DC/AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter, Jim Doucette, Dan Eggleston, Jeremy Shaw, 2006-2007, NECAMSID,
Worchester.
[4] Linear Integrated Circuits, D.Roy Choudary, Shail B.Jain, Second Edition, New Age International Publishers.
[5] Power Electronic for Technology, Ashfaq Ahmed, PEARSON Education.
[6] Generalized structure of a multilevel PWM Inverter, P.Bhagwat and V.R.Stefanovic, IEEE Trans. Ind. Appln,
VoI.IA-19. no.6, pp. I OS7-1069, Nov-Dec .. 1983.
[7] Multilevel Inverters; A Survey of Topologies, Controls, and Applications, J.Rodriguez, Jih-sheng Lai, and F
Zheng peng, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron., vol.49 , n04., pp.724-738. Aug.2002.
[8] Analysis and Simulation of New Seven Level Inverter Topology, K.Surya Suresh and M.Vishnu Prasad,
International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 2, Issue 4, April 2012.
[9] Single leg H-bridge inverters, Prof. Preeti V. Kapoor Mamata N. Kokate, International Journal of Innovative
Research & Studies, Vol 2 Issue 4.
[10] Design and Implementation of Seven Level Cascaded H-Bridge Inverter Using Low frequency transformer
with Single DC Source, T. Singaravelu, M.Balasubramani, J.Gowrishankar, International Journal of Engineering
and Technology.
[11] New Modified Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter Topology with Reduced Switches, Dr.K.Sathiyasekar,
International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, Volume 9 Number 4.

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