SVPWM control strategy for Novel Interleaved High Gain DC converter fed 3-level NPC Inverter for Renewable Energy Applications

• Published in: ISA transactions 2023-09, Vol.140, p.426-437
• Main Authors: Subbulakshmy, R., Palanisamy, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-level Neutral-Point Clamped (NPC) inverter; High gain; Interleaved boost converter; MPPT; PV panel; Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM)
• ISSN: 0019-0578; 1879-2022
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isatra.2023.05.019

The high-gain DC converter is a crucial step in the conversion process for raising the voltage from PV panels to the desired voltage level in renewable energy applications. This article proposes a three-phase grid connected PV system with a novel interleaved high gain DC converter fed 3-level Neutral-Point-Clamped (NPC) Inverter. The novel high-gain DC converter consists of an interleaved boost converter (IBC) at its input side, a switched capacitor cell, a passive clamp circuit, and a voltage multiplier unit (VMU). The interleaved arrangement eliminates the input current ripple, and the VMU is utilized to improve the overall voltage gain besides the reverse recovery problem of diodes. The proposed converter is operated at a duty cycle D = 0.6 and a high voltage conversion ratio of 17.5 which is ideal for sustainable energy applications. This paper uses the proposed converter for a grid-connected solar PV system with an NPC inverter controlled using Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) technique. The SVPWM strategic approach is a prevalent modulation technique for NPC inverter due to its extensibility in choosing the ideal voltage vectors. It uses an active filter, which is more dependable, dynamically better behaved, and capable of operating accurately under distorted grid voltages under varying load conditions. The proposed grid-associated PV system with a novel interleaved converter and 3-level NPC inverter is employed in Matlab/SimPower System and experimentally verified. Power loss and efficiency calculations were performed on the DC converter side, and the efficiency was 96.07%. NPC inverters have a THD of 22.2%. Results from simulations and experiments indicate that the suggested topology can efficiently extricate the maximal amount of power from PV modules and inject energy into the grid system with excellent steady-state and dynamic performance. [Display omitted] •The Incremental & Conductance MPPT method is engaged for tracking MPP.•The grid connected novel DC converter has the high voltage gain of about 17.5 at a nominal duty ratio of D=0.6.•The novel DC converter is appropriately utilized for 3-level NPC Inverter to generate grid voltage.•The proposed structure is successfully synchronized to the grid by Synchronous Reference Frame Phase Locked Loop (SRFPLL).