Time-Domain Minimization of Voltage and Current Total Harmonic Distortion for a Single-Phase Multilevel Inverter with a Staircase Modulation

Milan Srndovic, Yakov L. Familiant, Gabriele Grandi and Alex Ruderman
Additional contact information
Milan Srndovic: Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, Bologna 40136, Italy
Yakov L. Familiant: Power Electronics Research Lab, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr Avenue 57, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Gabriele Grandi: Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, Bologna 40136, Italy
Alex Ruderman: Power Electronics Research Lab, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr Avenue 57, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-14

Abstract: This paper presents the optimization technique for minimizing the voltage and current total harmonic distortion ( THD ) in a single-phase multilevel inverter controlled by staircase modulation. The previously reported research generally considered the optimal THD problem in the frequency domain, taking into account a limited harmonic number. The novelty of the suggested approach is that voltage and current minimal THD problems are being formulated in the time domain as constrained optimization ones, making it possible to determine the optimal switching angles. In this way, all switching harmonics can be considered. The target function expression becomes very compact and existing efficient solvers for this kind of optimization problems can find a solution in negligible processor time. Current THD is understood as voltage frequency weighted THD that assumes pure inductive load—this approximation is practically accurate for inductively dominant RL-loads. In this study, the optimal switching angles and respective minimal THD values were obtained for different inverter level counts and overall fundamental voltage magnitude (modulation index) dynamic range. Developments are easily modified to cover multilevel inverter grid-connected applications. The results have been verified by experimental tests.

Keywords: multilevel inverter; staircase modulation; optimization; total harmonic distortion ( THD ) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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