Modified Five-Level ANPC Inverter with Output Voltage Boosting Capability

Abstract

This paper proposes a modified five-level active neutral point clamped inverter with output voltage boosting capability. The operating principle is based on switched-capacitor technique, which allows to reduce the dc-link voltage level to half of the conventional topologies. Additionally, the proposed five-level inverter reduces the devices voltage stress and consequently minimizes the total standing voltage of the circuit. The inverter can balance the dc-link and floating capacitors through a proposed modulation scheme without employing complex control methods or additional circuits and sensors. Experimental results are obtained from a 1.2 kW laboratory prototype to demonstrate the system operation.