Comparative Performance Analysis of Conventional and Modular Multilevel Converter: A Research on Solar Based Application

Abstract

inverters are basically power electronics converters which converts the dc input power to an ac output power. Inverters are mostly used for sensitive loads to decrease harmonic content for better power quality. Moreover, the power converters are made up of switching devices they require a suitable control technique such as pulse width modulation (PWM) technique. In this research PV array is designed by using Matlab/ Simulink along with different inverters configurations ranging from conventional converters such as (Cascaded H-Bridge, neutral point clamped NPC inverters) with the modular multilevel converter (MMC). Moreover, the H Bridge inverter, NPC inverter performance is shown by PWM control methods as an alternate phase opposition deposition (APOD), and in phase deposition (IPD) and phase opposite deposition (POD). Whereas for MMC nearest level modulation (NLM) control method is used. All inverters are rated for 5MVA. The comparison of these converters is in terms of their total harmonics distortion (THD) by the use of Matlab/Simulink software.