Computer Simulation and Experimental Implementation of a Pic-Controlled Hybrid Multilevel Inverter for Undergraduate Laboratories

Abstract

Hybrid multilevel inverters have emerged as attractive power conversion systems at medium voltage levels, which are structured by cascaded series inverters having different internal DC bus voltages. This scheme therefore provides the capability to produce higher voltages at higher speeds with low switching losses and high conversion efficiency. The fundamentals and importance of hybrid multilevel systems can be easily enhanced by the undergraduate with visual learning and laboratory studies. However, the students cannot be able to implement the peripheral interface controller (PIC)-based projects sufficiently. In this paper, the simulation models and experimental setup of a hybrid multilevel inverter are presented in detail. From the theoretical and experimental experience obtained from this study, the students and engineers can provide more analytical opportunities for studying control algorithms of PIC controlled power electronics projects. This will provide the students to reinforce their lectures and laboratory studies. (c) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 20: 445453, 2012