Series H-bridge with stacked multicell inverter to quadruplicate voltage levels

Abstract

In this study, a series H-bridge with stacked multicell inverter (SHSI) is suggested which is commonly suitable for a high number of steps and for generating all levels at the output associated with a low number of circuit devices including switches and related gate driver circuits for each switch. The main advantages of the suggested topology compared with traditional flying capacitor multicell and stacked multicell (SM) inverters are increasing the number of output voltage levels and the root-meansquare value as much as four times, and doubles compared with mixed stacked multicell inverter. SHSI is compared with the mentioned structures improving the output voltage harmonic contents and decreasing the number and rating of components thereby reducing the cost and installation area and decreasing the stored energy and rating of flying capacitors. These sufficiencies are obtained by adding only four low-frequency switches and a DC source to the traditional SM inverters structure. Provided simulation and experimental results certify the feasibility and good performance of the suggested inverter. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2013.