THD Minimization in Seven-Level Packed U-Cell (PUC) Inverter using Particle Swarm Optimization

Abstract

This study presents the modeling and simulation of an asymmetric seven-level Packed U-Cell (PUC) multilevel inverter employing a reduced number of power switches. A Modified Pulse Width Modulation (MPWM) scheme, optimized through the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, is implemented to determine the optimal switching angles for enhanced harmonic elimination. The primary objective is to improve the output voltage waveform quality while reducing Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and enhancing switching efficiency. The novelty of this work lies in integrating PSO with MPWM control in an asymmetric seven-level PUC inverter configuration with fewer switches, a combination that has not been previously addressed. Simulation results in Simulink demonstrate that the proposed PSO-optimized MPWM strategy achieves a THD of 17.72%, outperforming conventional modulation techniques. These findings highlight the effectiveness of intelligent optimization methods for multilevel inverter control and their potential contribution to improving power quality in renewable energy applications.

Keywords

Total Harmonic Distortion; Seven-level Packed U-Cell (PUC) inverter; Particle Swarm Optimization; modified PWM; multilevel inverter; power electronics.

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