Evolutionary computing based area integration PWM technique for multilevel inverters

When utilized at low switching frequencies, existing multilevel carrier-based pulse width modulation (PWM) strategies have no special provisions to render the quality output, and several lower order harmonics are included in the spectrum. This paper proposes a novel multilevel PWM strategy to have the advantages of low frequency switching and reduced total harmonic distortion (THD). The basic idea of the proposed area integration PWM (AIPWM) method is that the area of the required sinusoidal (fundamental) output and total area of all the pulses in every half cycle are same. The rationale for opting AIPWM is easy implementation of the control scheme in real-time digital platform. An additional crux objective of this paper is evolutionary computing based placement of the AIPWM pulses. The same is fulfilled by two soft computing techniques namely Evolutionary Programming (EP) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). A prototype seven-level cascaded inverter has been built and controlled with the novel PWM strategies.

[1]  Fang Zheng Peng,et al.  Multilevel converters-a new breed of power converters , 1995, IAS '95. Conference Record of the 1995 IEEE Industry Applications Conference Thirtieth IAS Annual Meeting.

[2]  Shen Wei,et al.  A flexible way to generate PWM-SHE switching patterns using genetic algorithm , 2001, APEC 2001. Sixteenth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (Cat. No.01CH37181).

[3]  Leon M. Tolbert,et al.  Pulse-width optimization in a pulse density modulated high frequency AC-AC converter using genetic algorithms , 2001, 2001 IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics. e-Systems and e-Man for Cybernetics in Cyberspace (Cat.No.01CH37236).

[4]  S. S. Ahmed,et al.  Single carrier PWM scheme for cascaded multilevel voltage source inverter , 2003, The Fifth International Conference on Power Electronics and Drive Systems, 2003. PEDS 2003..

[5]  Brendan Peter McGrath,et al.  Multicarrier PWM strategies for multilevel inverters , 2002, IEEE Trans. Ind. Electron..

[6]  Vassilios G. Agelidis,et al.  Analysis of multicarrier PWM methods for a single-phase five level inverter , 2001, 2001 IEEE 32nd Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conference (IEEE Cat. No.01CH37230).

[7]  D. A. Torrey,et al.  Genetic algorithms for control of power converters , 1995, Proceedings of PESC '95 - Power Electronics Specialist Conference.

[8]  Wan Jiang Analysis of multi-carrier PWM methods for single-phasefive-level inverter , 2007 .

[9]  L.M. Tolbert,et al.  Harmonic optimization of multilevel converters using genetic algorithms , 2004, IEEE Power Electronics Letters.

[10]  Z. Michalewicz,et al.  Genetic algorithms for numerical optimization , 1991 .

[11]  P. Bhagwat,et al.  Generalized Structure of a Multilevel PWM Inverter , 1983, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications.

[12]  M. Fracchia,et al.  Optimized modulation techniques for the generalized N-level converter , 1992, PESC '92 Record. 23rd Annual IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference.

[13]  Dong-Seok Hyun,et al.  An Improved Carrier-Based SVPWM Method Using Leg Voltage Redundancies in Generalized Cascaded , 2003 .

[14]  Yiqiao Liang,et al.  A power line conditioner based on flying capacitor multilevel voltage source converter with phase shift SPWM , 1999, Conference Record of the 1999 IEEE Industry Applications Conference. Thirty-Forth IAS Annual Meeting (Cat. No.99CH36370).

[15]  Shahrin Md. Ayob,et al.  A new PWM scheme for cascaded multilevel inverter using multiple trapezoidal modulation signals , 2004 .

[16]  L.M. Tolbert,et al.  Novel multilevel inverter carrier-based PWM methods , 1998, Conference Record of 1998 IEEE Industry Applications Conference. Thirty-Third IAS Annual Meeting (Cat. No.98CH36242).

[17]  G. Sciutto,et al.  A new multilevel PWM method: a theoretical analysis , 1990, 21st Annual IEEE Conference on Power Electronics Specialists.

[18]  Zbigniew Michalewicz,et al.  Genetic Algorithms + Data Structures = Evolution Programs , 1992, Artificial Intelligence.

[19]  Vassilios G. Agelidis,et al.  Application specific harmonic performance evaluation of multicarrier PWM techniques , 1998, PESC 98 Record. 29th Annual IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference (Cat. No.98CH36196).

[20]  T. Habetler,et al.  Novel Multilevel Inverter Carrier-Based PWM Method , 2000 .

[21]  G. Clark,et al.  Reference , 2008 .

[22]  D.G. Holmes,et al.  A comparison of multicarrier PWM strategies for cascaded and neutral point clamped multilevel inverters , 2000, 2000 IEEE 31st Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conference. Conference Proceedings (Cat. No.00CH37018).

[23]  Dong-Seok Hyun,et al.  An improved carrierwave-based SVPWM method using phase voltage redundancies for generalized cascaded multilevel inverter topology , 2000, APEC 2000. Fifteenth Annual IEEE Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (Cat. No.00CH37058).

[24]  Leon M. Tolbert,et al.  Harmonic optimization of multilevel converters using genetic algorithms , 2004, PESC 2004.