Cascade Type MLI

Introduction:
The term “multilevel inverter” was
rooted in 1970s . Multilevel inverters offer various
applications in voltage ranging from medium to high such
as in renewable sources, industrial drives, fans, and
conveyors. Small voltage step results in making the
multilevel inverters withstand better voltage, fewer
harmonics, reduced switching loss, and better power
quality .
Cascaded multilevel inverters were
developed in the initial stage. Later, diode-clamped MLIs
were developed followed by flying capacitor MLIs. These
three topologies utilize different mechanisms to produce
the required output. The topology introduced first, that is,
the CMLI, is simply series connection of H-bridges. The
diode-clamped MLI uses series capacitor bank whereas,
in flying capacitor MLIs floating capacitors are used in
order to clamp the output voltage . H-bridge inverters
have isolation transformers, and then H-bridge cascaded
MLIs were introduced to separate DC input sources. But
they do not need either clamping a diode or flying
capacitors. Absence of voltage imbalance is the main
advantage of cascaded MLI. Fewer components are used
in CMLI compared to diode-clamped and flying capacitor
MLIs .
Most of the researches are carried out in
cascaded MLI configuration. But still the new trends are
involved in the evolution of renewed multilevel inverters.
Modifications are made in its inbuilt structure. A 7-level
MLI was generated with 10 switches reducing number of
switches from the main conventional CMLI . It offers
good results yielding desired a 15-level output with low
THD.

Circuit Diagram :-
Here in H-bridge cascade MLI, three
voltage source are used and 10 switches (MOSFET) are
connected across a load(R,L,RL) so that we can get the
voltage variation. The circuit diagram for Cascaded MLI is
shown below-
Here in H-bridge cascade MLI, three voltage source are used
and 10 switches (MOSFET) are connected across a
load(R,L,RL) so that we can get the voltage variation.

 SYMMETRIC DC SOURCE
CONFIGURATION :-
In this configuration voltages sources are arranged in such a
way that V1=V2=V3= Vdc . In this symmetric configuration by
varying the switching sequence , we get 7 stages of voltage
configuration. The switching sequence for the voltage levels are
tabulated below :-
 SL NO. VOLTAGE LEVELS CONNECTING SWITCHES

1 3V S1 , S3 , S5 , S7 , S10
2 2V S2 , S3 , S5 , S7 , S10
3 1V S2 , S4 , S5 , S7 , S10
4 O S7 , S8 , S9 , S10
5 -1V S2 , S4 , S5 , S8 , S9
6 -2V S2 , S3 , S5 , S8 , S9
7 -3V S1 , S3 , S5 , S8 , S9

 ASYMMETRIC DC SOURCE
CONFIGURATION :-
In this configuration voltages
sources are arranged in such a way that V1= Vdc , V2= 2
Vdc ,V3= 4 Vdc . Here MOSFET is used as a switch as it
is a Voltage Controlled Device. In this Asymmetric
configuration by varying the switching sequence , we get
15 stages of voltage configuration. The switching
sequence for the voltage levels are tabulated below :-

SL NO. VOLTAGE LEVELS CONNECTING SWITCHES

1 7V S1 , S3 , S5 , S7 , S10
2 6V S1 , S3 , S6 , S7 , S10

3 5V S1 , S4 , S5 , S7 , S10

4 4V S1 , S4 , S6 , S7 , S10

5 3V S2 , S3 , S5 , S7 , S10

6 2V S2 , S3 , S6 , S7 , S10

7 1V S2 , S4 , S5, S7 , S10

8 0V S7 , S8 , S9 , S10

9 -1V S2 , S 4 , S 5 , S 8 , S 9

10 -2V S2 , S 3 , S 6 , S 8 , S 9

11 -3V S2 , S 3 , S 5 , S 8 , S 9

12 -4V S1 , S 4 , S 6 , S 8 , S 9

13 -5V S1 , S 4 , S 5 , S 8 , S 9

14 -6V S1 , S 3 , S 6 , S 8 , S 9

15 -7V S1 , S3 , S5 , S8 , S9

Application:
Cascade multilevel inverters have
been developed for electric utility applications. A cascade
M-level inverter consists of (M-1)/2 H-bridges in which
each bridge's dc voltage is supported by its own dc
capacitor. The new inverter can: (1) generate almost
sinusoidal waveform voltage while only switching one
time per fundamental cycle; (2) enables direct parallel or
series transformer-less connection to medium- and high-
voltage power systems. In short, the cascade inverter is
much more efficient and suitable for utility applications
than traditional multi-pulse and pulse width modulation
(PWM) inverters . Cascade MLIs are used in Motor
Drivers, Active Filters , Electric vehicle drives , DC
power source utilization , Power factor compensator ,
Back to back frequency link systems , Interfacing with
renewable energy resources.

CONCLUSION :-
By analyzing this Symmetrical and Asymmetrical
case ,here we comes to conclusion that in case of
Symmetrical there is low and same stress voltage through
all the switches but voltage variation step is less .
Compare to this, in case of Asymmetrical case ,here the
stress voltage is different and unequal through all the
switches but more variation of step is more.