Simulation and Performance Analysis of a
Seven-Level Voltage-Boosting Inverter for UPS
Applications Using MATLAB/Simulink
1. Introduction
The demand for uninterrupted and high-quality power has led to the extensive use of
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems in industrial and residential applications. A UPS
ensures a constant AC supply to critical loads, even during grid disturbances such as sags, swells,
or blackouts. At the core of modern UPS systems lies the inverter, which converts DC power to AC.
Traditional inverter systems require multiple conversion stages and suffer from limited voltage gain
and switching losses. Recent advancements in multilevel inverter (MLI) topologies and
switched-capacitor (SC) techniques have enabled voltage boosting and improved output quality
with reduced component count. This project aims to simulate and analyze a seven-level
switched-capacitor voltage-boosting inverter for UPS applications using MATLAB/Simulink. The
proposed topology provides: Single DC input source Voltage gain of 3× Reduced inrush current
using a soft-charging inductor Low THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) Improved efficiency and
capacitor lifespan The goal is to design, simulate, and validate this inverter topology through
MATLAB/Simulink modeling and study the impact of inductive soft-start mechanisms on
performance.
2. Theory
2.1 Switched-Capacitor Multilevel Inverter (SC-MLI)
Switched-capacitor inverters employ capacitors that are alternately charged in parallel and
discharged in series with the input DC source to achieve voltage boosting. In the proposed
seven-level topology, two capacitors (C■, C■), eight switches (S■–S■), and two diodes are used
with one soft-charging inductor (L■). The circuit can generate seven voltage levels: ±Vin, ±2Vin,
±3Vin, and 0.
2.2 Soft-Charging Mechanism
A charging inductor (Lf) is introduced to reduce the inrush current during capacitor charging. A
freewheeling diode (Df) provides a current path to prevent voltage spikes and capacitor
overcharging, increasing reliability and lifespan.
2.3 PWM Control
Level-Shifted Pulse Width Modulation (LS-PWM) is used to control the switching sequence. Six
carrier waveforms are compared with a sinusoidal reference to generate the switching pulses.
3. Simulation Setup
The circuit was modeled in MATLAB/Simulink using the Simscape Electrical toolbox. Key
components include: DC Source: 80 V Switches: IGBT blocks with antiparallel diodes Capacitors:
2200 µF and 4700 µF Inductor (Lf): 1000 µH Load: 120 Ω (resistive) and 80 Ω + 100 mH (inductive)
Switching frequency: 4 kHz Fundamental frequency: 50 Hz The LS-PWM control logic was
implemented using comparator blocks and a sine wave reference. Output waveforms were
recorded for different load conditions.
4. Results and Discussion
Simulation results confirm the seven-level stepped output waveform with a peak of approximately
240 V for an 80 V input. The inclusion of the charging inductor significantly reduced inrush current
from 75 A to 40 A. The THD of the output voltage waveform was observed to be below 2%.
Efficiency analysis shows an improvement from 95.8% (without inductor) to 97.2% (with inductor).
The output voltage and current waveforms remain stable under varying load conditions, confirming
reliable operation for UPS applications.
5. Conclusion
The simulated seven-level voltage-boosting inverter demonstrates effective voltage gain, reduced
inrush current, and low harmonic distortion. The addition of a soft-charging inductor enhances
system stability and capacitor life. The proposed inverter is suitable for UPS applications due to its
compact structure, single DC source requirement, and high efficiency.
Future Scope: This simulation can be extended to hardware implementation or modified for
renewable sources such as photovoltaic or battery storage systems.
