Modeling and Simulation of Seven Level Inverter Based on Multi-carrier Control

Yougui Guo1, Yongdong Li 2 and Jianlin Zhu1

1

College of Information and Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, China 2 Department of Electrical Machines, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

Abstract-In this paper, an analysis is given to the topology of cascaded seven-level inverter. Then its simulation model is set up. On the other hand, several carrier control strategies are discussed, modeled and applied for the control of this multilevel inverter respectively, including phase disposition, phase opposition disposition and alternative phase opposition disposition. Then the switching control signals are properly produced according to the working principle of this inverter respectively. Finally, the simulation models of the total system are set up respectively and the demanded experiments are carried out. The results have verified the feasibility and easy realization of multi-carrier control strategies for this multi-level inverter. Further, these several multi-carrier control strategies are analyzed and compared in detail. Then some useful conclusions are obtained according to simulation waveforms and corresponding spectrum analyses. They lay good foundations for future researches.

H1 V1

S1

S2

H2 V2

H3 V3 0

S3

S4

Fig.1 The a-phase topology of 7 level inverter

Va Vb Vc

V1

V1

V1

V2

V2

V2

V3

V3

V3

I.

INTRODUCTION
Fig.2 The topology of 7 level inverter

Multilevel inverter has a series of advantages over two-level converter[1-3], such as its output waveforms are more similar to the object modulation waves ( sinusoidal waves ), less skip and harmonics of output voltages, fewer switching losses. Thus, it is much researched. One of its hot researches is the control strategy. And it is classified into multi-carrier control and space vector modulation. The latter is more used for three-level converter. And it is less researched in more than five-level converter because it is much difficult to calculate and complex to study. However, multi-carrier control is a good solution to this problem. Therefore, multi-carrier control has good researching sense and great practical value. The cascaded seven-level inverter is selected as the studied object in this paper is that it has more advantages compared with others, such as no problem of balanced capacitor voltages, not needing clamped diodes or capacitors, minimized devices to the same levels, etc. II. IMODELING OF MAIN CIRCUIT The main circuit is made up of three parts according to three-phase output. Here take a-phase as an example, as is shown in Fig.1. The other two are similar. Then the 7 level inverter is shown in Fig.2. Its 0-line of each part is connected each other[1][3].

First, a part of H-bridge is an IGBT reversely paralleled by a diode. Then four such part are constructed a H-bridge. And three such H-bridge are constructed Fig.1. Finally, the main circuit is modeled by three such Fig.1. III.
MODELING OF CONTROL CIRCUITS

A. Phase Disposition Method This method means that all the triangle carriers with the same phase are ranked consequently and vertically and superposed. Then they are modulated compared with modulation wave to produce PWM signals. The control signal modeling is shown in Fig.3 while only output a-phase being considered. Here suppose modulation wave is sinusoidal. In bridge H1, switch S1 and S3 have complementary logic; so does switch S2 and S4. Then 4 switching signals are obtained in H1. The processing of H2 and H3 is similar. Finally, 12 switching signals are obtained by a logic processing module. And the main circuit is constructed by three cells according to three-phase outputs( a, b, c ), the modeling of other two cells are similar. Thus, 36 switching signals are obtained[3][4].

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corresponding control ports of switching devices of a-phase main circuit. Then, the control circuits and main circuits of b-phase and c-phase are processed similarly. Finally, the corresponding supplies and measure modules, etc. are compensated. Thus, the system is obtained[3]. V.
SIMULATION

Main parameters: supply voltage of each H-bridge is the same reaching 100V. Frequency of each carrier is 5kHz. Frequency of each modulation wave is 50Hz. Three-phase modulation waves are symmetrical. Output frequency of inverter is 50Hz. Load is symmetrical three-phase and Y-connected, whose nominal phase to phase voltage is 380V, nominal frequency is 50Hz, active power is 1kW, reactive power is 0. All these parameters are the same to following three cases.
6

A.

Fig.3 The modeling of a-phase disposition method

B. Working principle of 7 level inverter The main circuit consists of three cells. And each cell is cascaded by three H-bridges and supplied by independent supplies. By means of different switching combinations, 7 output levels are obtained. Here take a-phase as an example to further explain it. As is shown in Fig.3. Carrier 1and 2 control H1 respectively. The result of comparison of carrier 1 with sinusoidal wave( modulation wave) controls the left arm of H1. When sinusoidal wave is greater than carrier 1, S1 is switched on. The output voltage V1; otherwise, S3 is switched on. The output voltage is zero. Similarly, carrier 2 controls S2 or S4. Carrier 3 and 4 control H2 respectively. Its control process is the same as H1. Carrier 5 and 6 control H3 respectively. Its control process is the same as H1[3]. C. Alternative Phase Opposition Disposition This method means that all the triangle carriers are ranked consequently and vertically and superposed. The phases of carriers greater than 0 are opposed to those of carriers less than 0. Then they are modulated compared with modulation wave to produce PWM signals. Here suppose modulation wave is sinusoidal. The main circuit is constructed by three cells according to three-phase outputs( a, b, c ). So, the modeling of three cells is similar. It is the same as phase disposition method[3]. D. Alternative Phase Opposition Disposition This method means that all the triangle carriers are ranked consequently and vertically and superposed. The phases of adjective carriers are opposed each other. Then they are modulated compared with modulation wave to produce PWM signals. Here suppose modulation wave is sinusoidal. The main circuit is constructed by three cells according to three-phase outputs( a, b, c ). So, the modeling of three cells is similar. It is the same as phase disposition method[3]. IV.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM

Phase Disposition Method Under the modulation of this multi-carrier, output phase voltage of 7-level inverter is shown in Fig.4( a-phase). Its output line to line voltage is shown in Fig.5( a-phase to b-phase )[4].

Fig.4 output phase voltage of 7-level inverter and its spectrum analysis

Fig.5 Its output line to line voltage and corresponding spectrum analysis

B.

The outputs of a-phase control circuit are connected to the

Alternative Phase Opposition Disposition Under the modulation of this multi-carrier, output phase voltage of 7-level inverter is shown in Fig.6( a-phase). Its output

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line to line voltage is shown in Fig.7(a-phase to b-phase )[4].

Fig.9 Its output line to line voltage and corresponding spectrum analysis Fig.6 output phase voltage of 7-level inverter and its spectrum analysis

Seen from simulation waveforms of 7-level inverter under three multi-carrier modulation methods, the first method has best output line to line voltages; the second and third ones have the same quality of output line to line voltages; the second one has best output phase voltages, while the first and third ones have very near qualities of output phase voltages. All in all, THD of each output voltage is less than 1%. The output voltages have very high qualities. VI.
CONCLUSION

These three multi-carrier modulation methods are very fit for the control of 7-level inverter. They have greatly decreased the control difficulty compared with SVM method. When we need excellent output line to line voltages, we can select the first method. When we need excellent output phase voltages, we can select the second one. For the more than 7-level converter, we can try applying multi-carrier control strategy for it.
Fig.7 Its output line to line voltage and corresponding spectrum analysis

ACKNOWLEDGMENT Many difficulties are encountered in the process of modeling. These problems are finally solved by the help of professor Yongdong Li, Tsinghua University. I cordially express my gratitude to him and professor Zhu. REFERENCES
[1] F Z Peng, A generalized multilevel inverter topology with self voltage balancing. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 611-618, February 2001. [2] J S Lai, F Z Peng, Multilevel converters- a new breed of power converters. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 509-517, March 1996. [3] Y D Li, X Xiao, Y Gao, High power multilevel converters- principle, control and applications. Science press, Beijing, China, pp. 25-91, 2005. [4] M Y Wang. Simulink 4 modeling and dynamic simulation. Publishing house of electronics industry, Beijing, China, pp. 89-133, 2002.

C. Alternative Phase Opposition Disposition Under the modulation of this multi-carrier, output phase voltage of 7-level inverter is shown in Fig.8( a-phase). Its output line to line voltage is shown in Fig.9(a-phase to b-phase )[4].

Fig.8 output phase voltage of 7-level inverter and its spectrum analysis

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