Thirteen Level Boost Switched Capacitor Multilevel Inverter

Abstract

This paper presents a single source thirteen-level sixfold voltage gain switched capacitor multilevel inverter with reduced number of switches and lower voltage stress. The topology utilizes only 10 unidirectional switches, one bidirectional switch, four capacitors, and two diodes. The topology utilizes level-shifted sinusoidal pulse width modulation (LS-SWPM) to achieve the required switching pattern for the capacitor’s natural voltage balance. Due to its inherent gain capability, the topology is suitable for low-voltage renewable energy sources. The proposed topology construction and its modes of operation are explained along with the modulation strategy. The power loss calculations as well as the topology efficiency are discussed. The proposed topology is assessed through a comparative study with similar topologies in the literature. Finally, the design feasibility is verified through a simulation model utilizing MATLAB/ Simulink. The topology is assessed under various loading conditions including resistive and inductive loading. Furthermore, various step change situations are applied to test the output stability.