Comparison Performance of Nine Level Multilevel Inverter Using Bipolar and Unipolar Switching Schemes

Multilevel inverter structures have the advantages due to the ablility to operate at high dc-bus voltage. It is able to operate at higher power applications by using series connection of switching devices. In addition, multilevel inverter can generate output voltage with very low harmonic distortion and synthesis a staircase voltage waveform by having multiple voltage levels. Various multilevel inverter topologies are introduced; however, cascaded multilevel inverter is commonly used because it is easy to be implemented. In addition, multilevel inverter topologies are able to operate at lower switching frequency and it produces higher efficiency by producing lower switching dissipation. In this paper, MATLAB/Simulink is used to model the seven levels cascaded multilevel PWM inverter by using bipolar and unipolar switching techniques. The analysis of the cascaded multilevel inverter will be done on different types of non-linear loads such as R-load, RL-load and RC-load The THD of voltages and currents on each type of loads that are done and finally the results are compared.