2013 International Conference on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy [ICRESE’13]
Harmonic Minimization in Multilevel Inverters Using
Selective Harmonic Elimination PWM Technique
M.Mythili,
PG Scholar,
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
K.S.Rangasamy College of technology,
Tiruchengode, Tamilnadu, India.
Abstract— Generally the output voltage of the inverters must
be sinusoidal. However the waveforms of practical inverters
are non sinusoidal and contain certain harmonics. For low and
medium power applications, square wave or quasi square wave
may be acceptable but for high power applications, low
distorted sinusoidal waveforms are required. By increasing
number of levels in inverter the output voltage have more steps
generating a staircase waveform, which has reduced harmonic
distortion. There emerges need of multilevel inverter. In this
paper cascaded multilevel inverter with Selective Harmonic
Elimination Pulse Width Modulation (SHE-PWM) technique is
implemented. The problem of SHE-PWM is to solve the non
linear transcendental equations which are used to determine
the switching angles. Here the evolutionary algorithm based on
natural selection is proposed to solve the equations which
reduce the computational burden resulting in faster
convergence. The main advantages are reduced total harmonic
distortion and low switching frequency. To validate the
computational results for switching angles, a simulation is
carried out in MATLAB/SIMULINK software tool for a 7-
level cascaded H-bridge inverter.
Index Terms:—Multilevel inverter; Selective harmonic
elimination PWM; Evolutionary Algorithm
I. INTRODUCTION
In recent years, multilevel inverters have received more
attention in industrial applications, such as motor drives,
Static VAR Compensators (STATCOMs), Flexible Ac
Transmission System (FACTS), high voltage direct current
lines, electrical drives and renewable energy systems [1].
Compared to the traditional two level voltage source
inverters, the stepwise output voltage is the major advantage
of multilevel inverters. This advantage results in higher
power and needlessness of a transformer at distribution
voltage level, thereby reducing the costs. Multilevel
inverters are generally divided into three configurations:
diode-clamped, flying-capacitor, and cascaded H-bridge
multilevel inverters [2].
Among these inverter topologies, cascaded multilevel
inverter reaches the higher output voltage and power levels
and the higher reliability due to its modular structure.
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N.Kayalvizhi,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
K.S.Rangasamy College of Technology,
Tiruchengode, Tamilnadu, India.
Cascaded multilevel inverters are based on a series
connection of several single phase full bridge inverters. This
structure is capable of reaching medium output voltage
levels using only standard low voltage components [3].
Typically, it is necessary to connect three to ten inverters in
series to reach the required output voltage. These converters
also feature a high modularity degree because each inverter
can be seen as a module with similar circuit topology,
control structure, and modulation. Therefore, in the case of a
fault in one of these modules, it is possible to replace it
quickly and easily. Moreover, with an appropriated control
strategy, it is possible to bypass the faulty module without
stopping the load, bringing an almost continuous overall
availability.
Harmonic content is one of the most important aspects
of these inverters. The amount of harmonics, introduced to
the system, is lesser as compared with those of common
inverters because of the staircase waveform of multilevel
inverters. However, some studies have concentrated on
proposing an effective technique to reduce harmonic
contents further, and as a result, different methods have
emerged: sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (PWM),
selective harmonic elimination, and Space Vector
Modulation (SVM). However, PWM techniques are not able
to eliminate low order harmonics completely. Another
approach is to choose switching angles so that specific
lower order dominant harmonics are suppressed. This
method is known as Selective Harmonic Elimination (SHE)
[4] or programmed PWM technique in technical literatures.
A fundamental issue associated with such method is to
obtain the arithmetical solution of nonlinear transcendental
equations that contain trigonometric terms and naturally
present multiple solutions. SHE-PWM techniques offer
several advantages over other modulation methods,
including acceptable performance with low switching
frequency to fundamental frequency ratios, direct control
over output waveform harmonics, and the ability to leave
triple harmonics uncontrolled to take advantage of circuit
topology in three phase systems, and therefore have drawn
great attention in recent years.
Numerical iterative techniques, such as Newton-Raphson
method [5], are applied to solve the SHE problem; however,
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such techniques need a good initial guess that should be
very close to the exact solution. A systematic approach to
solve the SHE problem based on resultant theory method is
proposed, where transcendental equations that describe the
SHE problem are converted into an equivalent set of
polynomial equations, and then, resultant theory method is
utilized to find all possible sets of solutions for this
equivalent problem. However, as the number of harmonics
to be eliminated increases, the degrees of the polynomial in
these equations become so large that solving them is not
possible. Hence evolutionary algorithms can be used for
solving the equations.
Fig.1.Basic Structure of 7-Level Cascaded Multilevel Inverter
Evolutionary algorithms find solutions where low order
harmonics can be eliminated. These methods are simple and
can be used for problems with any number of levels. They
are free from derivation. The evolutionary algorithms
present in the literature are genetic algorithm [6]-[7],
particle swarm optimization, and bacterial foraging
algorithm. In this paper, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is
proposed to minimize total harmonic distortion and to
determine the switching angles. This is more effective than
existing genetic algorithm.
II. CASCADED FULL BRIDGE MULTILEVEL
INVERTER
The term multilevel starts with the three level inverter.
The multilevel inverters have drawn tremendous interest in
the power industry. It may be easier to produce a high
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power, high voltage inverter with multilevel structure.
Multilevel inverter includes an array of power
semiconductor devices and capacitor voltage sources, the
output of which generates voltages with stepped waveforms.
The general structure of the multilevel converter is to
synthesize a near sinusoidal voltage from several levels of
dc voltages. As number of voltage levels increases, the
harmonic content of the output voltage waveform decreases
significantly. The commercial topologies of multilevel
voltage source inverter are diode-clamped multilevel
inverter, flying capacitors multilevel inverter and cascade
multilevel inverter. In this paper cascaded multilevel
inverter is taken for implementation.
A cascaded multilevel inverter consists of a series of
single phase full bridge inverter units. The general function
of this multilevel inverter is to synthesize a desired voltage
from several separate dc sources [8], which may be obtained
from batteries, fuel cells or solar cells. Each separate dc
source is connected to a full bridge inverter. The cascaded
multilevel inverter does not require any voltage clamping
diodes or voltage balancing capacitors like other two
topologies. A basic structure of 7-level multilevel inverter is
shown in Fig.1. To obtain a 7-level multilevel inverter, three
full bridge inverters are connected in series. Each full bridge
inverter can generate three different voltage outputs: +Vdc,
0, and –Vdc. The phase output voltage is synthesized by sum
of three inverter outputs,
Van = Va1 + Va 2 + Va 3
The number of output phase voltage levels in a cascaded
multilevel inverter is 2S+1, where S is the number of dc
sources. The values of dc sources used are equal which can
be called as symmetric cascaded multilevel inverter. Each
full bridge unit generates a quasi square waveform by phase
shifting its positive and negative phase leg switching
timings. The output voltage waveform of 7-level cascaded
multilevel inverter is shown in Fig.2.
Fig.2.Output Voltage Waveform of 7-Level Cascaded
Multilevel Inverter
III. SELECTIVE HARMONIC ELIMINATION PULSE
WIDTH MODULATION (SHE-PWM)
Generally, traditional PWM control methods and space
vector PWM methods are applied to multilevel inverter
modulation control. These methods will cause extra losses
due to high switching frequencies. For this reason, low
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switching frequency control methods, such as selective
harmonic elimination method are used for modulation [cos(θ1 ) + cos(θ 2 ) + cos(θ 3 )] = 3 M
control. By placing notches in the output waveform at
proper locations, certain harmonics can be eliminated. This
allows lower switching frequencies to be used which led to [cos(5θ1 ) + cos(5θ 2 ) + cos(5θ 3 )] = 0
lower losses and higher efficiency. In general Fourier series
is given by,
[cos(7θ1 ) + cos(7θ 2 ) + cos(7θ 3 )] = 0 (I)
∑∞ cos nωt sin nωt
Here M represents modulation index varies from 0 to 1.
In this case Fourier series expansion of output voltage
waveform is given by , IV. SOLUTION USING GENETIC ALGORITHM (GA)

∞
Genetic Algorithm is a method used for solving both
sin nωt constrained and unconstrained optimization problems based
on natural selection. It imitates biological evolution by
Where using genetic operators referred to as reproduction,
= = 0 (due to quarter wave symmetry) crossover, mutation etc. The genetic algorithm is simple
and applicable to problems with any number of levels,
1 without the extensive derivation of analytical expressions,
sin
for both eliminating and minimizing harmonics. This
From Fig.2, for quasi square wave, algorithm is used for optimizing switching angles. The
structure of a simple GA consists mainly of three operators.
2 A selection operator, a crossover operator which acts on a
sin
population of strings to perform the required reproduction
On solving we get, and recombination, and a mutation operator which
4 randomly alters character values, usually with a very
cos low probability. GA technique is used for its ability to deal
For 7-level cascaded multilevel inverter for three dc sources with complicated problems where analytical formula is not
it is given as, yet possible. In the multi-objective SHE problem, if there is
no set of angles that will satisfy the SHE equation, the
4 analytical approach will not return an answer. The GA, on
cos
the other hand, will always return an answer that will not
Where n=1, 5, 7 and s=3 which represents number of dc solve exactly all variables but instead will give answers that
sources. The objective of SHEPWM is to eliminate lower are very close. Thus instead of eliminating harmonics it
order harmonics while remaining harmonics can be minimizes them.
removed with filter. In this paper, a 7-level cascaded The steps followed in the proposed genetic algorithm are
multilevel inverter is taken to eliminate fifth and seventh as follows:
harmonics. So, to satisfy the fundamental harmonic 1) select the population type
component and eliminate the fifth and seventh harmonics, 2) Initialize the population
three nonlinear equations with three angles are provided in 3) Evaluate the fitness function of each individual
4) Minimize the fitness function according to the
constraints
4v dc 5) Pick the best individuals
b1 = V1 = [cos(θ1 ) + cos(θ 2 ) + cos(θ 3 )]
π 6) Create a new offspring using crossover and
mutation operations
7) If number of iterations is less than 100, repeat the
4v dc process otherwise terminate the process.
b5 = V5 = [cos(5θ1 ) + cos(5θ 2 ) + cos(5θ 3 )]
5π
V. IMPLEMENTATION OF GENETIC ALGORITHM
FOR SOLUTION OF SHEPWM EQUATIONS
4v
b = V = dc [cos(7θ1 ) + cos(7θ 2 ) + cos(7θ 3 )]
7 7 7π The SHEPWM equations involve trigonometric terms
which are difficult to solve. The methods like Newton
To eliminate fifth and seventh harmonic V5 and V7 are Raphson method and resultant theory are normally used to
set to zero in the above equation. To determine the solve the equations. But when number of levels increases it
switching angles the following equations must be solved, becomes complex to use these equations. Hence

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optimization algorithms are used to solve these types of The switching angles are determined by genetic
problems. Here the algorithm based on genetic algorithm is algorithm using MATLAB coding. Then it is used for
implemented to solve these types of equations. The giving pulses for switches. The input voltage given is 24V
switching angles are determined using genetic algorithm by which is same for all dc sources as it is symmetrical
optimizing the fitness functions and satisfying the multilevel inverter. The output voltage obtained is
constraints. The steps for formulating a problem and 3Vdc=72V. The simulation diagram is shown in Fig.3 and
applying GA are as follows: output voltage is shown in Fig.4. The FFT analysis for
1) Select population type as double vector which can proposed genetic algorithm is shown in Fig.5.The THD
be used for nonlinear constraints rather than binary obtained using genetic algorithm is 11.35% which is lower
strings than conventional multilevel inverter which is 22.26%.
2) Find number of variables specific to problem. Here
numbers of variables are same as switching angles VII. CONCLUSION
which are going to be determined. Therefore the
numbers of variables are three.
3) Set population size and initialize the population.
The population used here is 20 chromosomes.
4) Then most important item in this GA is to calculate
the fitness function for each chromosome. The
fitness function used here is,
1
FV =
1 + objfun

The objective function used here is to minimize the

THD which is given by,
1 3 2
∑ ( ∑ cos( nα k ))
n=5,7 n k =1
objfun =
3
∑ cos(α k )
k =1
5) GA is usually set to run for a certain number of
iterations 100 in this case. After the first iteration,
new population is created which goes through the
same cycle starting from evaluation. Sometimes,
the GA can converge to a solution well before 100
iterations are completed. After this iterations GA
find only one solution. Here solutions are find from
M=0.4 to 0.8.
Here the constraints used for minimizing the fitness are:
Fig. 3. Simulation Diagram of 7-Level Multilevel Inverter
0 ≤α ≤π /2
And they must also satisfy the nonlinear constraints in
equation (I). The solution obtained can be the optimal
solution for reducing the total harmonic distortion. The table
shows one of the solutions obtained with the GA.

TABLE I. SWITCHING ANGLES DETERMINED USING GA FOR

M=0.7

M α1 α2 α3
0.7 18.3 44.117 64.34

VI.SIMULATION RESULTS

Fig.4.Output Voltage of 7-Level Cascaded Multilevel Inverter

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 [7] Nima Yousefpoor, Seyyed Hamid Fathi, Naeem
Farokhnia,and Hossein Askarian Abyaneh, “THD
minimization applied directly on the line-to-line voltage of
multilevel inverters” IEEE Transactions on Industrial
Electronics, vol. 59, no. 1, pp.373-380,Jan.2012.
[8] Zhong Du , Leon M. Tolbert, and John N. Chiasson, “Active
harmonic elimination for multilevel converters” IEEE
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March 2006.
[9] Li Li, Dariusz Czarkowski, Yaguang Liu, and Pragasen
Pillay, “Multilevel selective harmonic elimination PWM
technique in series connected voltage inverters” IEEE
Transactions on Industry Applications, vol. 36, no. 1,
pp.160-170, Jan./Feb.2000..
[10] Wanmin Fei , Xinbo Ruan, and BinWu, “A generalized
formulation of quarter-wave symmetry SHE-PWM problems
for multilevel inverters” IEEE Transactions on Power
Electronics, vol. 24, no. 7, pp.1758-1766, July 2009.

Fig.5.FFT Analysis of Output Voltage of 7-level Multilevel Inverter

In this paper a method based on genetic algorithm is

used to solve the nonlinear transcendental equations. These
equations determine the switching angles which are used to
minimize the THD. The effectiveness of the applied method
is verified using the simulation results. This proves the
effectiveness of the optimization algorithms. The other
optimization algorithms can also be used for more effective
results. This method can also be used with reduced number
of switches for future work.

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