Voltage Control of 3-Phase 4-Leg Multilevel Inverter with Minimum Number of Switching States

Authors

  • Firas H. K. AL-Fadhli Department of Research and Development, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Baghdad, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6458-5111
  • Ammar Ibrahim Majeed Department of Systems Engineering, College of Information Engineering, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0411-3024
  • Mohammad Hameed Khazaal Defense Industries Commission, State Company for Military Industries, Al-Karama & Al-Harith Factory, Baghdad, Iraq. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4651-8828
  • Benmessaoud Mohammed Tarik Electrical and Electronics Engineering Faculty, University of Sciences and Technology of Oran, USTO-MB, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4631-792X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31272/jeasd.2825

Keywords:

Cost function, Flying capacitor inverter, Model predictive control, Multilevel inverter, States reduction

Abstract

This paper uses a finite control set (FCS) model predictive control (MPC) technique to control the output voltage of a 3-phase 4-leg multilevel inverter with a minimum number of switching states to supply a balanced, unbalanced, or nonlinear load. Good results are obtained when using this technique for a flying-capacitor (FC) multilevel inverter with an output that includes a filter made of capacitors and inductors. In this method, 19 switching states are used instead of 81 switching states in classical inverters, reducing the time required to reach the optimal solution in the cost function (g). The cost function calculates the minimum error between the output and reference voltage by selecting the optimal switching state for driving all inverter transistors. This technique can be applied to other types of multilevel inverters without considering the type of load used or needing to adjust the controller parameters. The inverter is designed for powering the 3-phase loads by separately generating three output voltages from the fourth leg using MPC

Author Biographies

Firas H. K. AL-Fadhli, Department of Research and Development, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Baghdad, Iraq.

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Department of Research and Development, Baghdad, Iraq.

Ammar Ibrahim Majeed, Department of Systems Engineering, College of Information Engineering, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq

Department of Systems Engineering, College of Information Engineering, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq.

Mohammad Hameed Khazaal, Defense Industries Commission, State Company for Military Industries, Al-Karama & Al-Harith Factory, Baghdad, Iraq.

Defense Industries Commission, State Company for Military Industries, Al-Karama & AL Harith Factory, Baghdad, Iraq.

References

T. Bertin, G. Despesse, and R. Thomas, “Comparison between a cascaded h-bridge and a conventional h-bridge for a 5-kw grid-tied solar inverter,” Electronics, vol. 12, no. 8, Apr. 2023, Art. No. 1929, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics12081929

H. Aws Al-Jrew, R. Jawad Mahmood, and S. Ramzy Ali, “Comparison of new multilevel inverter topology with conventional topologies used for induction heating system,” IJEEE, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 48-57, Jun. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.37917/ijeee.18.1.6

A. Balal, S. Dinkhah, F. Shahabi, M. Herrera, and Y. Lung Chuang, “A review on multilevel inverter topologies,” Emerging Science Journal, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 185-200, Feb. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.28991/ESJ-2022-06-01-014

K. Jena, D. Kumar, K. Janardhan, B. Kumar, A. Singh, S. Nikolovski and M. Bajaj, “A novel three-phase switched-capacitor five-level multilevel inverter with reduced components and self-balancing ability,” Applied Sciences, vol 13, no. 3, pp. 1-19, Jan. 2023, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031713

U. Chourasia and P. Tiwari, “Comparative analysis of two-level, three-level, five-level, and seven-level H bridge inverter,” IRJET, vol. 7, no. 12, pp. 444-449, Dec. 2020, https://www.irjet.net/archives/V7/i12/IRJET-V7I1277.pdf

John J. Grainger, William D. Stevenson, “Power system analysis,” McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1st edition, 2021.

I. Abdulbaqi, A. Ahmed, R. Omar, and A. Abdulsada, “Modeling and analysis of a four-leg inverter using space vector pulse width modulation technique,” JEASD, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 100-119, Mar. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.31272/jeasd.23.2.9

R. Aboelsaud, A. Ibrahim, A. Garganeev, “Review of three-phase inverters control for unbalanced load compensation,” IJPEDS, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 242-255, Mar. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.11591/ijpeds.v10.i1.pp242-255

A. Garganeev, R. Aboelsaud, and A. Ibrahim, “Voltage control of autonomous three-phase four-leg VSI based on scalar PR controllers,” 20th International Conference of Young Specialists on Micro/Nanotechnologies and Electron Devices (EDM), pp. 558-564. Sep. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/EDM.2019.8823098

C. Roh, H. Jeon, S. Kim, J. Kim, N. Lee, and S. Song, “Optimal hybrid pulse width modulation for three-phase inverters in electric propulsion ships,” Machines, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 1-19. Feb. 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12020109

L. Fangke, L. Haifeng, L. Yongdong, and C. Jianyun, “A modulation method to eliminate common-mode voltage of dual three-phase motor,” IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Expo (ITEC), pp. 1-5, Aug. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ITEC.2019.8790480

A. Poorfakhraei, M. Narimani, A. Emadi, “A Review of Modulation and Control Techniques for Multilevel Inverters in Traction Applications,” IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 24187-24204. Feb. 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3056612

C. Santhakumar, C. Bharatiraja, K. Gowrishankar, K.M. Ravi Eswar and J. Vinoth, “Extended over modulation zone three-dimensional SVPWM for three-level neutral-point-clamped,” Materials Today: Proceedings, vol. 52, Part 3, pp. 1756-1762, Feb. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3056612

D. Tran and N. Nguyen, “SVPWM strategies to reduce common-mode voltage for five-level ANPC inverter,” AETA 2022—Recent Advances in Electrical Engineering and Related Sciences: Theory and Application, vol. 1081, pp. 371-384, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3056612

B. Yu, W. Song and Y. Guo, “A simplified and generalized SVPWM scheme for two-level multiphase inverters with common-mode voltage reduction,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 69, no. 2, pp. 1378-1388, Feb. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2021.3063966

M. Fraser, C. Manning, and B. Wells, “Transformerless four-wire PWM rectifier and its application in AC-DC-AC converters,” IEEE Proceedings - Electric Power Applications, vol. 142, no. 6, pp. 410-416, Nov. 1995, doi: https://doi.org/10.1049/ip-epa:19952278.

A. Mustafa, “Multilevel inverters using finite set- model predictive current control for renewable energy systems applications,” Ph.D. Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology. 2015, Article link: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1202

A. Lewicki, M. Morawiec, “Control strategy for the multilevel cascaded H-bridge converter,” International Conference-Workshop Compatibility and Power Electronics, pp. 310-315, Sep. 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/CPE.2013.6601175

G. Srinivasan, M. Rivera, V. Loganathan, D. Ravikumar, and B. Mohandip, “Trends and Challenges in Multilevel Inverters with Reduced Switches,” Energies, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 368-391, Feb. 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10040368

J. Rodríguez, J. Lai, and F. Peng, “Multilevel Inverters: A Survey of Topologies, Controls, and Applications,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 49, no.4, pp. 724 -738, Aug. 2002, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2002.801052

F. AL-Fadhli and M. Khazaal, “Design and simulation of a multilevel inverter with Scott connection transformer based on STATCOM using low frequency modulation,” AIP Conference Proceedings 2386, 040010, vol. 2386, no. 1, Jan. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0067063

B. Wu, M. Narimani, “High-Power Converters and AC Drives,” John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2nd edition, 2006. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/servlet/opac?bknumber=7823162.

G. Carrara, S. Gardella, M. Marchesoni, R. Salutari, and G. Sciutto, “A new multilevel PWM method: a theoretical analysis,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 497-505, Jul. 1992, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/63.145137

Q. Al-Attwani, “Model predictive control of a four-leg three-phase inverter,” M.Sc. Thesis, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran, 2024.

Y. Chen and M. Laza, “An efficient MPC algorithm for switched systems with minimum dwell time constraints,” Automatica, vol. 143, pp. 110453, Sep. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.automatica.2022.110453.

S. Zaid, I. Mohamed, A. Bakeer, L. Liu, H. Albalawi, M. Tawfiq, and A. Kassem, “From MPC-Based to End-to-End (E2E) Learning-Based Control Policy for Grid-Tied 3L-NPC Transformerless Inverter,” IEEE Access, vol. 10, pp. 57309 - 57326, May. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3173752

A. Kumar, G. Kumar, D. Sreenivasarao and H. Myneni, “Model predictive current control of DSTATCOM with simplified weighting factor selection using VIKOR method for power quality improvement,” IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution, vol 13, no. 16, pp. 33649-3660, Jul. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-gtd.2018.6782

A. Castro, “Optimal Switching Sequence Model Predictive Control for Power Electronics,” Ph.D. Thesis, Universidad De Chile, 2019.

L. Kang, J. Cheng, B. Hu, X. Luo, and J. Zhang, “A Simplified Optimal-Switching-Sequence MPC with Finite-Control-Set Moving Horizon Optimization for Grid-Connected Inverter,” ADPT electronics, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 457, Apr. 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics8040457.

F. Donoso, A. Mora, R. Cardenas, A. Angulo, D. Saez, and M. Rivera, “Finite-set model-predictive control strategies for a 3L-NPC inverter operating with fixed switching frequency,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 65, no. 5, pp. 3954 - 3965, May 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2017.2760840.

V. Yaramasu, M. Rivera, M. Narimani, B. Wu, and J. Rodriguez, “Finite State Model-based Predictive Current Control with Two-step Horizon for Four-leg NPC Converters,” Journal of Power Electronics, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 1178-1188, 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.6113/JPE.2014.14.6.1178

C. Roh, “Performance Comparisons of Three-Phase/Four-Wire Model Predictive Control-Based DC/AC Inverters Capable of Asymmetric Operation for Wave Energy Converters,” ADPI Energies, vol. 15, no. 8, pp. 2839-2860, Apr. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/en15082839.

N. Dai, M. Wong, and Y. Han, “Application of a Three-level NPC Inverter as a Three-Phase Four-Wire Power Quality Compensator by Generalized 3DSVM,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 440-449, Mar. 2006, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2005.8697552

S. Mohapatra and V. Agarwal, “An Improved Reduced Complexity Model Predictive Current Controller for Grid Connected Four-Leg Multilevel Inverter,” IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 498-506, Jan. 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIA.2019.2952530

P. Ramasamy and V. Krishnasamy, “A 3D-Space Vector Modulation Algorithm for Three Phase Four Wire Neutral Point Clamped Inverter Systems as Power Quality Compensator,” Energies, vol. 10, no.11, pp. 1792-1800, Nov. 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/en10111792

V. Yaramasu, M. Rivera, B. Wu and J. Rodriguez, “Model Predictive Current Control of Two-Level Four-Leg Inverters - Part I: Concept, Algorithm and Simulation Analysis,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 28, no. 7, pp. 3459-3468, Nov. 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2012.2227509

M. Rivera, V. Yaramasu, J. Rodriguez and B. Wu, “Model Predictive Current Control of Two-Level Four-Leg Inverters - Part II: Experimental Implementation and Validation,” IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 28, no. 7, pp. 3469-3478, Nov. 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TPEL.2012.222782

V. Yaramasu, M. Rivera, M. Narimani, B. Wu and J. Rodriguez, “Model Predictive Approach for a Simple and Effective Load Voltage Control of Four-Leg Inverter with an Output LC Filter,” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 61, no. 10, pp. 5259-5270, Jan. 2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2013.2297291

M. Rivera, F. Morales, C. Baier, J. Munoz, L. Tarisciotti, P. Zanchetta, and P. Wheeler, “A Modulated Model Predictive Control Scheme for a Two-Level Voltage Source Inverter,” IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology (ICIT), pp. 2224-2229, Mar. 2015, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIT.2015.7125425

M. Fadel, A. Llor, B. Tran and A. Ziani, “Direct control of 4-Leg 4-Level Flying Capacitor Converter for an Active Filtering Application,” IFAC Proceedings Volumes, vol. 45, no. 21, pp. 325-330, Mar. 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.3182/20120902-4-FR-2032.00058

J. Morales, D. Gaona, M. Ángeles, R. Alzola and J. Zavala, “An Active Power Filter Based on a Three-Level Inverter and 3D-SVPWM for Selective Harmonic and Reactive Compensation,” Energies, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 297-320, Mar. 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/en10030297

A. Mohamed A. Baiju and M. Baiju, “A Novel Space Vector PWM Scheme for Multilevel Inverters,” Twenty-Fourth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition, pp. 671-676, Mar. 2009, doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/APEC.2009.4802732.

Downloads

Key Dates

Received

2024-03-07

Revised

2025-03-27

Accepted

2025-05-16

Published Online First

2025-05-19

How to Cite

AL-Fadhli, F. ., Ibrahim Majeed, A. ., Khazaal, M., & Tarik, B. M. . (n.d.). Voltage Control of 3-Phase 4-Leg Multilevel Inverter with Minimum Number of Switching States. Journal of Engineering and Sustainable Development, 29(4), 447-463. https://doi.org/10.31272/jeasd.2825