An Improved ANPC-based 7-level Inverter with Reduced Component and Low TSV for EV Applications

Abstract

The low dc-link voltage requirements of active-neutral-point-clamped (ANPC) inverters with voltage-gain capabilities make them attractive. The system's overall efficiency, reliability, and power density are improved by the single-stage dc-to-ac power conversion made possible by these low voltage needs. A high voltage gain of 1.5 has been reported for recent boost type ANPC topologies; nevertheless, this was attained at the cost of severe voltage stress on some of its switches. This work provides an enhanced ANPC topology that maintains the advantages of high voltage gain with less voltage stress and fewer components. The proposed configuration produces a 7-level output voltage with 1.5 times voltage boosting using just one flying capacitor, one dc source, and nine switches. A comparative analysis between the proposed topology and other recent topologies is presented to demonstrate its superiority. Also, experimental testing and measurements are carried out to verify the functionality and performance of the proposed topology across a range of loading conditions.