Switched Capacitor-Based 13L Inverter Topology for High-Frequency AC Power Distribution System

The power converters are taking responsibility to produce high-quality output voltage and current waveforms from the various PV sources. Recently, PV applications focus on high-frequency ac power distribution (HF-AC-PD). In particular, dc/ac switched capacitor multilevel inverters (SCMLIs) significantly reduce the power conversion stages and components, which result in high conversion efficiency. This article proposes a new SCMLI topology with a reduced number of switches and a self-balanced floating capacitor (FC) voltage. The proposed topology is configured as a single dc source and three dc sources. The proposed topology generates thirteen level output voltage waveforms, and the output voltage (V-o) is two times higher than the input voltage (V-in). The discharging time is less than the recently suggested topologies. Furthermore, the voltage stress on switches is reduced to 50% concerning the load voltage. Thus, a remarkable reduction in the bulky size of the FC is achieved. The simulation results are discussed for different fundamental frequencies of 360 Hz, 400 Hz, and 1 kHz and considering various loads. The proposed converter prototype is designed in the laboratory for 2 kW, and the results are presented. The results show a good agreement in terms of total harmonic distortions, power loss, and efficiency.

Automated summary

The article introduces a new SCMLI topology with a reduced number of switches and a self-balanced floating capacitor, capable of generating thirteen levels of output voltage waveforms, with output voltage being twice the input voltage. This topology offers shorter discharging time compared to other topologies, and reduces voltage stress on switches. The proposed converter prototype, designed for 2 kW power, shows good agreement in terms of total harmonic distortions, power loss, and efficiency.