A Novel Asymmetric Fifteen-Level Inverter for Medium Voltage Applications

Summary

This article presents a new 15-level asymmetric multilevel inverter with ten switches and three DC sources. By optimizing switching angles, an AI-based selective harmonic elimination technique lowers THD and boosts efficiency (>97%). Experiments and simulations validate improved power quality, fewer components, and medium-voltage application compatibility.

Abstract

A reduced-switch asymmetric fifteen-level multilevel inverter (MLI) topology for medium-voltage applications is shown in this article, coupled with a selective harmonic elimination (SHE) control technique aided by artificial intelligence (AI). Ten unidirectional switches and three unequal DC sources are used in the suggested arrangement to limit the total standing voltage (TSV) while producing a stepped output voltage. To find the most effective switching angles for various modulation indices, a hybrid control strategy that combines an artificial neural network (ANN) and the Newton-Raphson (NR) method is employed. A low-voltage experimental prototype is used to test the suggested topology's performance, which is assessed using MATLAB/Simulink simulations. The findings show that, under the evaluated operating conditions, the inverter can produce multi-level output waveforms with low lower-order harmonic content and good conversion efficiency. Over the assessed load range, the measured efficiency ranges from 98.6% to 97.1%, and under nominal conditions, total harmonic distortion (THD) is found to be 5.47%. The suggested topology achieves a lower switch count and competitive TSV and harmonic performance under comparable operating assumptions, according to a comparison analysis with a few multilevel inverter topologies from the literature. Nevertheless, because operational circumstances and control procedures are not completely standardized across research, these comparisons are just informative. While the suggested architecture is meant for scalable extension toward medium-voltage applications, experimental validation is carried out utilizing a low-voltage prototype to confirm switching behavior and control capabilities. The results show that the topology and control technique are feasible, even though the experimental validation is carried out at lower voltage levels. To achieve wider applicability, more validation under higher voltage circumstances and standardized benchmarking frameworks are needed.

Introduction

As a widely recognized renewable energy source, solar energy is attracting a lot of attention in the search for sustainable energy solutions. Solar technology has been widely used due to constant enhancements in efficiency and cost reduction. Solar power is essential for reducing dependency on fossil fuels and slowing down climate change as countries move toward greener energy systems. The cost-effectiveness and environmental advantages of photovoltaic (PV) energy make it unique. The goal of ongoing research and system development is to maximize PV cell energy extraction while guaranteeing smooth grid integration. Multilevel inverters (MLIs) have become an essential t....

Protocol

Topology configuration

Figure 2 displays the recommended architecture, which consists of 10 switches and three voltage sources arranged asymmetrically. The DC sources in the suggested 15-level inverter have a ratio of 1:2:4. This ratio is not arbitrary; it was selected to minimize the number of DC sources while allowing for the creation of a wide range of voltage combinations. The chosen values increase the number of output levels by permitting the production of discrete voltage steps without duplication. All materials used in this study are listed in the Table of Materials.

Results

Simulation results

The fifteen-level operation is simulated using the MATLAB/Simulink interface. The load parameters are 100 Ω and 100 mH, respectively, and the source voltages for fifteen levels are classified as 100 V, 200 V, and 400 V. The suggested inverter operates at 50 Hz, which is its fundamental frequency. The inverter performance under resistive loading conditions is displayed in Figure 13. Figure 14 depicts.......

Discussion

The reduced-switch asymmetric fifteen-level inverter topology combined with an AI-assisted selective harmonic elimination (SHE) technique is presented in this article. The suggested arrangement is appropriate for medium-voltage applications like solar systems and electric drive interfaces because it strikes a good balance between switch count, total standing voltage (TSV), and harmonic performance. The topology can generate high-quality stepped voltage waveforms with a reported efficiency surpassing 97.1% under nominal o.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Current Sensor	Hall-effect sensor	—	Used for current measurement
DC Power Supply (Isolated)	Laboratory Supply	—	10 V, 20 V, 40 V isolated DC sources
Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO)	Tektronix	—	Used for waveform observation and measurement
DSP Controller	Texas Instruments	TMS320F28379D	Used for pulse generation and control implementation
Gate Driver Circuit	Custom-built Driver IC	IR2110	Used for MOSFET switching control
Inductive Load	—	—	30 mH inductor
MATLAB/Simulink	MATLAB	Version (2025a)	Used for simulation and analysis
MOSFET	Infineon	IRFP460	500 V, 20 A power switch used in inverter
PCB / Breadboard Setup	Custom	—	Used for hardware implementation
Personal Computer	—	—	Used for simulation and DSP programming
PLECS Software	PLECS	Version (5.0.3.)	Used for thermal and loss analysis
Power Diode	ON Semiconductor	MUR860	600 V, 8 A fast recovery diode
Power Supply Unit	—	—	Auxiliary supply for control and driver circuits
Resistive Load	—	—	30 Ω power resistor
Voltage Probe	Tektronix	—	Used for voltage waveform acquisition