Single DC source H-bridge topology as a low cost multilevel inverter for marine electric systems

This paper proposes a new design and analysis of Single DC Source H-bridge inverter (SDSI) topology as a multilevel inverter to reduce the cost, installation space of marine electric systems. This new design converts the SDSI into a buck converter (BC) and multilevel inverter (MU). The newly designed single DC source multilevel inverter (ND-SDCMI) does not require a change its structure and blocking voltage to create n numbers of levels. The ND-SDCMI is compared with existing single DC source multilevel inverter (SDCMI) topologies in terms of the number of levels of output voltage, blocking voltage, switching devices, total harmonic distortion (THD), and other components. Simulation results of THD, efficiency, blocking voltage, and output voltage for a 12-level ND-SDCMI are discussed in detail. Prototype 12-level ND-SDCMI is implemented and programed using a relatively inexpensive F28027 microcontroller.