Novel cross-switch seven-level inverter with triple boost capability and self-balancing

A novel single-phase seven-level inverter using a cross-switch cell (CSC) is presented in this paper. Compared with conventional inverters, the proposed topology can generate seven-level output, triple boost gain with one dc source and a reduced number of switches. The CSC provides different charging paths for the capacitors to realize self-balance. Hence, the proposed inverter can realize self-balancing without additional control methods or sensors. Moreover, the proposed structure inherently generates negative output voltage levels without a back-end H-bridge circuit, which reduces the voltage stress on switches. This paper has fully illustrated the operation principles, and presents capacitance calculation and loss analysis. Afterward, a comparative study against recently proposed seven-level inverters is introduced, illustrating the merits of the proposed topology in terms of reduced switches, high voltage-boosting capacity, and self-balancing. Ultimately, a laboratory prototype is built for the validation of the proposed inverter.