A Self-Balanced Switched-Capacitor 17-Level Multilevel Inverter Using One-Dimensional Space Vector Modulation

The cost and output voltage quality of multilevel inverters are among the most critical design considerations. Consequently, reducing the number of power switches and DC sources while improving output voltage quality plays a crucial role in achieving cost-effective designs. This paper proposes a new multilevel inverter topology capable of generating 17 voltage levels using a single DC source and only 12 power switches. A comprehensive comparison demonstrates the superior cost effectiveness of the proposed topology compared to existing counterparts. Moreover, modulation of reduced-switch multilevel inverters remains a challenge when conventional PWM techniques are employed, as they typically require complex logic circuits to generate appropriate switching patterns. To address this issue, this paper investigates the application of one-dimensional space vector modulation (OD-SVM) to control the proposed multilevel inverter without the need for any additional logic circuits. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed inverter topology and the OD-SVM control strategy.