A Novel Multilevel Inverter Suppressing Harmonics Using GA-SHE Algorithm

The capability of the Multilevel Inverters in producing superior quality power output in terms of reduced switching frequency and switching loss, reduced total harmonic distortions etc. in comparison to the conventional two-level structure, motivates the researchers to further experiment for newer and improved topologies of MLIs for medium and high-power applications. Development of a novel MLI topology using less switch count producing high-quality output has been a focus of current research. This paper presents design and analysis of a novel Reduced Switch Single Source (RSSS) MLI topology, which is capable of producing high quality output. For a nine-level structure of this RSSS MLI topology, Genetic Algorithm was used to determine the optimized switching angles for solving the nonlinear equations of SHE, resulting in elimination of lower order harmonics (fifth and seventh). Experiments were performed in MATLAB/Simulink platform to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed topology. The results thus obtained with simulation were further validated by conducting real-time experiment for the proposed nine level RSSS MLI topology using Dspace (CP1104), under different loading conditions i.e., without load, with resistive load only and with resistive-inductive load.