Implementation of novel toroidal transformer-based single-phase multilevel inverter

Abstract

Multilevel inverters (MLIs) have gained traction for their application in high-voltage AC systems and renewable energy. They use fewer DC sources and switches in transformer-based designs to attain the necessary output voltage magnitude. Creating an efficient, high-gain MLI with reduced sources and switches demands meticulous design and substantial effort. This paper introduces a new multilevel inverter design utilizing a toroidal transformer with a reduced number of components. The new topology incorporates ten transistors and a single toroidal transformer. These components are arranged as two H-bridge modules and a bidirectional switch with a transformer to generate nine voltage levels. Notably, the inclusion of three complementary switch pairs in the inverter circuit simplifies the control strategy of the proposed inverter. This configuration enables the inverter to achieve more voltage levels and higher voltage gain using fewer components. Comparison with other existing nine-level inverters highlights the effectiveness of the new design in minimizing the cost function value. The performance assessment of the proposed inverter employs a cost-effective solution. Simulation and experimental results are provided to showcase the practicality and efficiency of the proposed nine-level inverter. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024.