A Self-Balancing 13-Level Single-Phase Triple Gain Inverter
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12928/biste.v8i2.14920Keywords:
Boost Inverter, Switched-Capacitor, Self-Balancing, Thirteen-Level InverterAbstract
A potential single stage power electronics interface for integrating renewable sources like PV, fuel cells, etc. with an AC load is a switched capacitor based multilevel inverter with boosting capability. In this research, a thirteen-level MLI topology with voltage boosting factor of three a gain of three for the renewable energy integration is proposed. The proposed MLI requires twelve unidirectional switches, one bidirectional switch, three capacitors, and a single DC source. The voltage stress across each switch is lower than the peak output voltage since the proposed inverter doesn't need a back-end H-Bridge. The proper selection of switching sequence enables the self regulation of voltage across all three capacitors, is self-regulated eliminating the need of additional sensor/control. Simulation results obtained from MATLAB/Simulink confirm the stable operation of the MLI and the self-regulation of switched capacitor voltages under step variations in load, source voltage, and modulation index. A comprehensive comparison with existing topologies demonstrates the superiority of the proposed topology in terms of reduced total number of components and lower total blocking voltage.
References
S. Munawar, M. S. Iqbal, M. Adnan, M. Ali Akbar and A. Bermak, "Multilevel Inverters Design, Topologies, and Applications: Research Issues, Current, and Future Directions," in IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 149320-149350, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3472752.
J. Rodriguez, Jih-Sheng Lai and Fang Zheng Peng, "Multilevel inverters: a survey of topologies, controls, and applications," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 724-738, 2002, https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2002.801052.
A. Singh, V. Jately, P. Kala, Y. Yang and B. Azzopardi, "Advancements in Multilevel Inverters for Efficient Harnessing of Renewable Energy: A Comprehensive Review and Application Analysis," in IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 156939-156964, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3477501.
S. Vaidya, K. Prasad, and J. Kilby, “The Role of Multilevel Inverters in Mitigating Harmonics and Improving Power Quality in Renewable-Powered Smart Grids: A Comprehensive Review,” Energies, vol. 18, no. 8, p. 2065, 2025, https://doi.org/10.3390/en18082065.
A. Hren, M. Truntič, and F. Mihalič, “A Survey on the State-of-the-Art and Future Trends of Multilevel Inverters in BEVs,” Electronics, vol. 12, no. 13, p. 2993, 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12132993.
S. Alepuz et al., “A Survey on Capacitor Voltage Control in Neutral-Point-Clamped Multilevel Converters,” Electronics, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 527–527, 2022, https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11040527.
S. Coday, N. Ellis, N. Stokowski and R. C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski, "Design and Implementation of a (Flying) Flying Capacitor Multilevel Converter," 2022 IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), pp. 542-547, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1109/APEC43599.2022.9773635.
M. Malinowski, K. Gopakumar, J. Rodriguez and M. A. Pérez, "A Survey on Cascaded Multilevel Inverters," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 57, no. 7, pp. 2197-2206, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2009.2030767.
R. Bauwelz Gonzatti, Y. Li, M. Amirabadi, B. Lehman and F. Z. Peng, "An Overview of Converter Topologies and Their Derivations and Interrelationships," in IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 6417-6429, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1109/JESTPE.2022.3181217.
K. K. Gupta, A. Ranjan, P. Bhatnagar, L. K. Sahu and S. Jain, "Multilevel Inverter Topologies With Reduced Device Count: A Review," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 135-151, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2015.2405012.
N. Prabaharan and K. Palanisamy, “A comprehensive review on reduced switch multilevel inverter topologies, modulation techniques and applications,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 76, pp. 1248–1282, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.03.121.
J. Venkataramanaiah, Y. Suresh, and A. K. Panda, “A review on symmetric, asymmetric, hybrid and single DC sources based multilevel inverter topologies,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 76, pp. 788–812, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.03.066.
M. Vijeh, M. Rezanejad, E. Samadaei and K. Bertilsson, "A General Review of Multilevel Inverters Based on Main Submodules: Structural Point of View," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 34, no. 10, pp. 9479-9502, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2018.2890649.
A. Salem, H. Van Khang, K. G. Robbersmyr, M. Norambuena and J. Rodriguez, "Voltage Source Multilevel Inverters With Reduced Device Count: Topological Review and Novel Comparative Factors," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 2720-2747, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2020.3011908.
H. P. Vemuganti, D. Sreenivasarao, S. K. Ganjikunta, H. M. Suryawanshi and H. Abu-Rub, "A Survey on Reduced Switch Count Multilevel Inverters," in IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society, vol. 2, pp. 80-111, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/OJIES.2021.3050214.
M. Trabelsi, H. Vahedi and H. Abu-Rub, "Review on Single-DC-Source Multilevel Inverters: Topologies, Challenges, Industrial Applications, and Recommendations," in IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society, vol. 2, pp. 112-127, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/OJIES.2021.3054666.
M. Kumari, Marif Daula Siddique, A. Sarwar, M. Tariq, Saad Mekhilef, and A. Iqbal, “Recent trends and review on switched‐capacitor ‐based single‐stage boost multilevel inverter,” International Transactions on Electrical Energy Systems, vol. 31, no. 3, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1002/2050-7038.12730.
M. S. W. Chan and K. T. Chau, "A New Switched-Capacitor Boost-Multilevel Inverter Using Partial Charging," in IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, vol. 54, no. 12, pp. 1145-1149, 2007, https://doi.org/10.1109/TCSII.2007.905352.
E. Babaei and S. S. Gowgani, "Hybrid Multilevel Inverter Using Switched Capacitor Units," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 61, no. 9, pp. 4614-4621, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2013.2290769.
Y. Ye, K. W. E. Cheng, J. Liu and K. Ding, "A Step-Up Switched-Capacitor Multilevel Inverter With Self-Voltage Balancing," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 61, no. 12, pp. 6672-6680, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2014.2314052.
Y. Hinago and H. Koizumi, "A Switched-Capacitor Inverter Using Series/Parallel Conversion With Inductive Load," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 878-887, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2011.2158768.
R. Barzegarkhoo, Y. P. Siwakoti, R. P. Aguilera, M. N. H. Khan, S. S. Lee and F. Blaabjerg, "A Novel Dual-Mode Switched-Capacitor Five-Level Inverter With Common-Ground Transformerless Concept," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 36, no. 12, pp. 13740-13753, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2021.3074517.
M. Saeedian, M. E. Adabi, S. M. Hosseini, J. Adabi and E. Pouresmaeil, "A Novel Step-Up Single Source Multilevel Inverter: Topology, Operating Principle, and Modulation," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 3269-3282, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2018.2848359.
R. Barzegarkhoo, M. Moradzadeh, E. Zamiri, H. Madadi Kojabadi and F. Blaabjerg, "A New Boost Switched-Capacitor Multilevel Converter With Reduced Circuit Devices," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 6738-6754, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2017.2751419.
W. Peng, Q. Ni, X. Qiu and Y. Ye, "Seven-Level Inverter With Self-Balanced Switched-Capacitor and Its Cascaded Extension," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 34, no. 12, pp. 11889-11896, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2019.2904754.
A. Taghvaie, J. Adabi and M. Rezanejad, "A Self-Balanced Step-Up Multilevel Inverter Based on Switched-Capacitor Structure," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 199-209, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2017.2669377.
R. Barzegarkhoo, H. M. Kojabadi, E. Zamiry, N. Vosoughi and L. Chang, "Generalized Structure for a Single Phase Switched-Capacitor Multilevel Inverter Using a New Multiple DC Link Producer With Reduced Number of Switches," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 5604-5617, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2015.2492555.
B. Ngo, M. Nguyen, J. Kim, and F. Zare, “Single‐phase multilevel inverter based on switched‐capacitor structure,” IET Power Electronics, vol. 11, no. 11, pp. 1858–1865, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-pel.2017.0857.
J. Liu, W. Lin, J. Wu and J. Zeng, "A Novel Nine-Level Quadruple Boost Inverter With Inductive-Load Ability," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 4014-4018, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2018.2873188.
N. Sandeep, J. S. M. Ali, U. R. Yaragatti and K. Vijayakumar, "Switched-Capacitor-Based Quadruple-Boost Nine-Level Inverter," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 34, no. 8, pp. 7147-7150, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2019.2898225.
M. D. Siddique et al., “Switched‐capacitor‐based boost multilevel inverter topology with higher voltage gain,” Iet Power Electronics, vol. 13, no. 14, pp. 3209–3212, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-pel.2020.0446.
S. S. Lee, "Single-Stage Switched-Capacitor Module (S3CM) Topology for Cascaded Multilevel Inverter," in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 33, no. 10, pp. 8204-8207, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2018.2805685.
T. Roy, P. K. Sadhu, and A. Dasgupta, “Cross-Switched Multilevel Inverter Using Novel Switched Capacitor Converters,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 66, no. 11, pp. 8521–8532, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2018.2889632.
W. Lin, J. Zeng, J. Liu, Z. Yan, and R. Hu, “Generalized Symmetrical Step-Up Multilevel Inverter Using Crisscross Capacitor Units,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 67, no. 9, pp. 7439–7450, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2019.2942554.
K. P. Panda, P. R. Bana, and G. Panda, “A Reduced Device Count Single DC Hybrid Switched-Capacitor Self-Balanced Inverter,” IEEE Transactions on Circuits & Systems II Express Briefs, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 978–982, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsii.2020.3018333.
S. Islam, M. D. Siddique, A. Iqbal, S. Mekhilef, and M. Al-Hitmi, “A Switched Capacitor-Based 13-Level Inverter With Reduced Switch Count,” IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 58, no. 6, pp. 7373–7383, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1109/tia.2022.3191302.
J. Zeng, W. Lin, D. Cen and J. Liu, "Novel K-Type Multilevel Inverter With Reduced Components and Self-Balance," in IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 4343-4354, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1109/jestpe.2019.2939562.
Y. Ye, S. Chen, X. Wang, and K.-W. E. Cheng, “Self-Balanced 13-Level Inverter Based on Switched Capacitor and Hybrid PWM Algorithm,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 68, no. 6, pp. 4827–4837, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2020.2989716.
N. Sandeep, “A 13-Level Switched-Capacitor-Based Boosting Inverter,” IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 998–1002, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsii.2020.3017338.
N. S. Hasan, N. Rosmin, D. A. A. Osman, and A. H. Musta’amal, “Reviews on multilevel converter and modulation techniques,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 80, pp. 163–174, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.163.
A. Poorfakhraei, M. Narimani and A. Emadi, "A Review of Modulation and Control Techniques for Multilevel Inverters in Traction Applications," in IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 24187-24204, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3056612.
Satılmış Ürgün, Halil Yiğit, and Seyedali Mirjalili, “Investigation of Recent Metaheuristics Based Selective Harmonic Elimination Problem for Different Levels of Multilevel Inverters,” Electronics, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 1058–1058, 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12041058.
N. A. Rahim, K. Chaniago and J. Selvaraj, "Single-Phase Seven-Level Grid-Connected Inverter for Photovoltaic System," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 58, no. 6, pp. 2435-2443, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2010.2064278.
S. K. Chattopadhyay and C. Chakraborty, "A New Multilevel Inverter Topology With Self-Balancing Level Doubling Network," in IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 61, no. 9, pp. 4622-4631, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2013.2290751.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sakthisudhursun Balakrishnan, Muralidharan Srinivasan, Sundaramahalingam Subramaniam, Vanaja Narayanaswamy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
This journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
