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Comparative analysis of level shifted PWM techniques for conventional and

modified cascaded seven level inverter

Conference Paper · March 2018

DOI: 10.1109/ICOMET.2018.8346403

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 2018 International Conference on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies – iCoMET 2018
Comparative Analysis of Level Shifted PWM Techniques for
Conventional and Modified Cascaded Seven Level Inverter
Jahangeer Soomro
Department of Electrical Engineering,
Sukkur IBA University,
Sindh, Pakistan 65200.
jahangir.soomro@iba-suk.edu.pk
Faheem A. Chachar
Department of Electrical Engineering,
Sukkur IBA University,
faheem.akhtar@iba-suk.edu.pk
Sohail A. Soomro
Department of Electrical Engineering, Sukkur IBA
University,
sohail.soomro@iba-suk.edu.pk
Abstract—Researchers are attracted to multilevel inverters
now days due to their better power quality and low total
harmonic distortions as compared to bipolar inverters. In this
work, study of total harmonic distortions of various level shifted
PWM techniques such as In Phase Disposition, Phase Opposition
Disposition and Alternate Phase Opposition Disposition PWM
techniques on traditional and modified seven level inverter is
done in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. Also it has been
observed that traditional seven level inverter utilizes twelve
switches, whereas, modified topology only uses six switches.
Hence, modified topology is suggested to better choice due to less
number of switches, reduced switching complexity and cost of the
system. The study of total harmonic distortions on various
modulation index (m) for level shifted modulation is also done in
detail.
Keywords— Pulse Width Modulation;Total Harmonic
Distortion; Conventional Multilevel Inverters; Modified Multilevel
Inverters, Level Shifted Modulation.
I. INTRODUCTION
Inverter is basically a power converter that converts dc power
to ac power of desired choice. That dc supply can be taken
from controlled rectifiers, solar panels or batteries. The
inverters are classified into square wave, quasi square wave
and low distorted sine wave (multilevel inverters). Square
wave and quasi square wave undergoes high value of total
harmonic distortions due to dominating lower order harmonics
[1]. Due to this fact, they are restricted for high power
applications and sensitive loads [2]. Researchers are attracted
to multilevel inverters due to their better power quality, low
978-1-5386-1370-2/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
Erum A. Qasmi
Renewable Energy & Clean Power
North China Electric Power University
erum.ee@iba-suk.edu.pk
Jamshed A. Ansari
Department of Electrical Engineering,
Sukkur IBA University,
jamshed.ahmed@iba-suk.edu.pk
total harmonic distortions and higher efficiency [3]. Also,
sensitive industrial and domestic loads can be operated
properly using multilevel inverters rather than two level
inverters [4].
Multilevel inverters are mainly classified into Flying
Capacitor inverter, Diode Clamped Inverters and Cascaded H
Bridge Inverters [5]. Cascaded H Bridge topology is better
choice than the other two topologies due to less number of
components utilized and automatic voltage sharing [6]. Hence,
Cascaded H- Bridge seven level topology is investigated in
detail in this research work.
A. Level Shifted PWM Techniques
Pulse width modulation techniques are utilized in applications
like controlling the brightness of LED, speed of motor, output
of power converters by varying the duty cycle of pulse [7].
Sinusoidal PWM techniques are one of the most commonly
used PWM techniques and it is further classified into level
shifted and phase shifted modulation schemes [8]. Literature
review suggests that phase shifted modulation schemes
undergoes more total harmonic distortions than level shifted
schemes [9]. Hence, in this research level shifted schemes
such as In Phase Disposition (IPD), Phase Opposite
Disposition (POD) and Alternate Phase Opposite Disposition
(APOD) are investigated. It is important to note that for n
level multilevel inverters, n-1 carrier signals of same
 2018 International Conference on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies – iCoMET 2018

amplitude and frequency will be required in level shifted

modulation [10].

In Phase Disposition (IPD)

Every carrier signal must be in phase with the other as shown
in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 In Phase Disposition PWM

Phase Opposition Disposition (POD)
All the carriers above and below zero point are 180° out of
phase with each other as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 MATLAB/SIMULINK Model of Conventional Seven

Level Cascaded H-Bridge Inverter

Control of this topology is obtained by using level shifted

Fig. 2 Phase Opposition Disposition PWM
Alternate Phase Opposition Disposition (APOD)
All the nearby carries are 180° out of phase with each other as
shown in Fig. 3.
PWM (PID, POD and APOD). It is important to note that
switching frequency of 1 KHz, fundamental frequency of 50
Hz, modulation index of 1 and load resistance of 50 Ω is taken
for comparative analysis and following results are obtained.
A. Seven Level IPD Scheme
Fig. 5 shows output voltage and Fig. 6 shows harmonic
contents in output voltage.

300

200

100
Magnitude

-100

Fig. 3 Alternate Phase Opposition Disposition PWM

-200

II. SIMULATION RESULTS OF CONVENTIONAL TOPOLOGY

-300
USING LEVEL SHIFTED PWM TECHNIQUES
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
The biggest drawback of conventional topology is that for n- Time

level, n-1/2 h bridges will be required [11]. Hence, for seven Fig. 5 Output voltage of seven levels IPD
levels, three h bridges (12 switches) will be required as shown
in Fig. 4. This will not only contribute to more switching
losses and increased switching complexity but also will
increase cost and size of the system.

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 2018 International Conference on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies – iCoMET 2018

300

200

100

Magnitude
0

-100

-200

-300
Fig. 6 Output voltage FFT analysis with m=1 and
Fswitching=1000Hz 0 0.02 0.04 Time 0.06 0.08 0.1

Fig. 9 Output voltage of seven levels APOD

B. Seven Level POD Scheme
Keeping all the parameters same, Fig. 7 shows output voltage
and Fig. 8 shows harmonic contents in output voltage.

300

200

100
Magnitude

-100

-200

-300

0 0.02 0.04
Time
0.06 0.08 0.1
Fig. 10 Output voltage FFT analysis with m=1 and
Fig. 7 Output voltage of seven levels POD Fswitching=1000Hz
D. Study of total harmonic distortion at different Modulation
Index (m)
It is concluded from following Table 1 that increasing
modulation index decrease total harmonic distortion and vice
versa. Also it is observed from simulation results that POD
PWM techniques offer less total harmonic distortion as
compared to IPD and APOD schemes.

Table 1: Comparative analysis between Level Shifted SPWM

for five levels

Modulation IPD THD POD APOD

Index (%) THD THD (%)
Fig. 8 Output voltage FFT analysis with m=1 and
Fswitching=1000Hz (%)
C. Seven Level APOD Scheme 1 18.16 16.35 17.62
Fig. 9 shows output voltage and Fig. 10 shows harmonic 0.9 22.66 21.41 22.55
contents in output voltage for the same parameters.
0.8 24.24 23.17 25.88
0.7 25.22 25.00 27.00

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 2018 International Conference on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies – iCoMET 2018

0.6 34.00 33.72 33.80

III. SIMULATION RESULTS OF MODIFIED TOPOLOGY USING

LEVEL SHIFTED PWM TECHNIQUES
Traditional topology uses more number of switches and thus
contributes more switching losses and increased cost [12].
Therefore, researches are moving towards modified topologies
which reduce switching complexity and switches losses.
Modified topology is recommended that only uses six
switches in this research work as shown in Fig. 11, whereas
conventional topology uses twelve switches as discussed in
previous model.

Fig. 12 Proposed IPD PWM Technique for Modified 7 level

Topology

IPD, POD and APOD schemes are implemented on modified

topology, keeping all the parameters same as previous
conventional topology for comparative analysis purpose.
A. Seven Level IPD Scheme
Fig. 13 shows harmonic contents of output voltage in modified
topology.

Fig. 11 MATLAB/SIMULINK Model of Modified Seven

Level Cascaded H-Bridge Inverter
IPD modulation scheme is shown in Fig. 12. With minor
changes in carrier signals, POD and APOD control topology Fig. 13 Output voltage FFT analysis with m=1 and
can also be designed. Fswitching=1000Hz

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 2018 International Conference on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies – iCoMET 2018
B. Seven Level POD Scheme
Fig. 14 shows harmonic contents of output voltage in modified
topology.
Fig. 14 Output voltage FFT analysis with m=1 and
Fswitching=1000Hz
C. Seven Level APOD Scheme
Similarly, Fig. 15 shows total harmonic distortions of output
voltage in modified topology.
Fig. 15 Output voltage FFT analysis with m=1 and
Fswitching=1000Hz
.
IV. COMPARISON BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL AND MODIFIED
TOPOLOGY
It is very clear from summarized table that modified topology
is better choice than traditional one. There is 50% reduction in
switches in modified topology. Thus it becomes more
economical and has less switching losses. Also total harmonic
distortions are very comparable and having negligible
difference in conventional and modified topology.
Table 2: Comparative analysis between Conventional and
Modified Cascaded MLI
Topology Ffundamental Fswitching Ma Switches %THD
978-1-5386-1370-2/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
IPD POD APOD
Conventional
50 1000 1 12
18.16 16.45 17.72
topology
Modified 18.22 16.54 17.79
50 1000 1 6
topology
V. CONCLUSION
It is observed that POD modulation has less total harmonic
distortions than IPD and APOD for seven level multilevel
inverter. Modified topology is proposed that uses only six
switches as compared to conventional topology, where twelve
switches are used. Also, it is concluded that power quality of
signal is improved and total harmonic distortions are reduced
by increasing modulation index.
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