Class notes : APE,
Prepared By: Dr.Shaikh Mohammed Suhel (Ph.D, M.Tech, Gate, B.E)
Associate Professor and Department Head
Multilevel Inverter
Definition: The number of steps in the voltage of the output terminal with respect to any
arbitrary internal reference point.
Generated stepped waveform output voltage with adjusted frequency and amplitude.
V V
1st level 1st level
t t
2nd
level 3rd level
nd
2 level
2 level Inverter 3 level Inverter
5 level Inverter
Question: Why Multilevel Inverter is required? Or Difference between two level and
Multilevel Inverter
2 Level Inverter Multilevel Inverter
1) The stress on the device is high in case of 1) The stress on the device is low as
dv voltage increases in stepped manner
two level inverter as is high in this dv
dt and so that is lower in this type
configuration. dt
configuration
2) Higher voltage operation is difficult 2) Higher voltage operation is easily
possible as voltage is distributed among
the series connected switches
3) Filter size requirement is higher in two 3) MLI (Multi level Inverter) reduces the
level filter size requirement
4) As power level increases, dc link 4) MLI reduces the lower order harmonics
voltage and switching frequency has to and operates with lower switching
be reduced. This action lead to generate frequencies
lower order harmonics (7th and 9th )
5) Devise rating is high in case of 2 level 5) Device rating reduces significantly and
inverter this will reduces the cost of MLI
Types of MLI:
1) Diode clamped MLI or Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) MLI
2) Flying capacitor type MLI
3) Cascade H-Bridge MLI
Diode Clamped MLI:
Three level Diode Clamped MLI:
Fig. 1 shows the one leg of Inverter (total three legs of three phase)
No of Capacitor require= (N-1) =2 ; where N is the level of Inverter
No of switches required/phase= 2(N-1) =4
Any times switches ‘ON’= (N-1) =2
S1 D1
C1 DA
S2 D2
Vdc O A
S3
D3
C2 DA’
S4 D4
Fig.1: 3-Level Diode clamped MLI
When S1 and S2 are ‘ON’: Here, Vax=Vdc and Vao=Vdc/2;
The positive direction of current flows
S1 D1
C1 through -C2-C1 -switch S1 and S2
The negative direction of current (Load
to source) flows through diode D1 and
S2 D2 D2-C1-C2
Vdc O A
i S1 S2
(-i) D1 D2
C2
When S2 and S3 are ‘ON’:
Here, Vax= Vdc/2and Vao=0;
S1
C1 DA The positive direction of current
flows through -DA -switch S2
The negative direction of current
(+i) S2 (Load to source) flows through-
Vdc O switch S3-and DA’
A
(-i)
S3
C2 DA’
S4
When S3 and S4 are ‘ON’: Here, Vax=0 and Vao= - Vdc/2;
The positive direction of current flows
through -C1-C2 -diode D4 and D3
C1
The negative direction of current (Load
to source) flows through switch S3-S4
(-i) S3 S4
and -C2-C1
i D3 D4
Vdc O A
S3
D3
C2 S4 D4
X
VAo
S1 and S2 On
t
S3 and S4 On
S2 and S3 On
Fig.2: Output Pole Voltage VAO
Switching state of 3 level Inverter:
Switching S1 S2 S3 S4 VAO VAX
state
ON ON OFF OFF Vdc/2 Vdc
OFF ON ON OFF 0 Vdc/2
OFF OFF ON ON -Vdc/2 0
Four level Diode Clamped MLI:
Fig. 4 shows the one leg of Inverter (total three legs of three phase)
No of Capacitor require= (N-1) =3 ; where N (=4) is the level of Inverter
No of switches required/phase= 2(N-1) =6
Any times switches ‘ON’= (N-1) =3
S1 D1
C1 DA
DB S2 D2
Vdc
S3 D3
C2
A
S4
D4
DA’
C3 S5 D5
DB’ S6 D6
When S1, S2 and S3 are ‘ON’:
S1 D1
C1 Here, Vax=Vdc ;
The positive direction of current flows
S2
D2 through C3-C2-C1 -switch S1 S2 and S3
Vdc The negative direction of current (Load
S3 D3
C2 to source) flows through diode D1 D2
A and D3-C1-C2-C3
i S1 S2 S3
(-i) D1 D2 D3
C3
When S2, S3 and S4 are ‘ON’:
S1
C1 DA Here, Vax=2Vdc/3 ;
The positive direction of current
flows through DA –switch S2 and S3
S2
The negative direction of current
Vdc (Load to source) flows through S4
S3
C2 diode DA’
A
S4
DA’
C3 S5
S6
X
When S3, S4 and S5 are ‘ON’:
S1
C1 Here, Vax=Vdc/3 ;
The positive direction of current flows
DB S2 through DB –switch S3
Vdc The negative direction of current (Load
C2 S3 to source) flows through S4 S5diode
A DB’
S4
S5
C3
DB’ S6
When S4, S5 and S6 are ‘ON’:
C1
Here, Vax=0;
Vdc
C2
A
S4 D4
C3 S5 D5
S6 D6
Features of NPC MLLI (or Diode Clamped MLI):
In 4 Level NPC MLI DA has to block 1/3 Vdc (Rating)
DA’ has to block 2/3 Vdc
Separate heat sink required in this case
Voltage unbalance issue: When o/p voltage is Vdc: C1, C2, C3 supply the power and
When o/p voltage is 2/3 Vdc C2, C3 supply the power-> so voltage across C1 increases
compare to other two capacitors.
VAX
S1
S2
S3
Fig.4: Output Voltage VAX
Advantages:
Filter size reduces
All switches operate at fundamental frequency so switching losses are reduced and
efficiency increase.
Control Method is simple
Disadvantage:
When no of level increases, no of clamping diode increases.
