A reduced switch multilevel topology for drives application

A reduced switch multilevel topology which can be used for intermediate power drive applications is presented in this paper. The multilevel converters give high level voltages by reducing the harmonics in the waveform. The harmonic content of the output wave decreases in proportion to the number of levels. The high frequency switching in conventional adjustable speed drives give rise to motor bearing failure with high switching losses. In H-bridge topology, additional dc sources are needed with increase in number of levels. This paper introduces a reduced switch multilevel topology which possesses output capacitors across the load offering additional advantage of reduction in power electronic switches. This new topology uses only five main switches, five diodes and four capacitors for the working of a five-level inverter. Again the working of the new modified inverter using single phase induction motor load has been studied and simulated.