WSEAS Transactions on Circuits and Systems
Print ISSN: 1109-2734, E-ISSN: 2224-266X
Volume 23, 2024
Comparison between Cascaded H-Bridge and Neutral Point Clamped Topologies in Medium-Voltage Systems
Authors: , ,
Abstract: Medium voltage motor drives (MVD) come in various topologies that allow designers to choose the
best option for their application based on technical and economic considerations. The Neutral Point Clamped
(NPC) and Cascade H-Bridge (CHB) are the most particular topologies that have come to the fore. CHB and
NPC MVD's primary operating principles, switching stress, topological complexity, and harmonic distortion of
the inverter output will be presented in this article, along with a brief review of suitable modules. Even though
the number of parts in a cascaded inverter is lower than that of a neutral point-clamped inverter, it has been
demonstrated that the stress on the switches in both types of inverters is the same and that the resulting output
waveforms are nearly identical in terms of harmonic distortion. The neutral point clamped topology requires
less secondary winding from the transformer, fewer voltage-balancing capacitors, the same quantity of
switches, and extra clamping diodes. Benefits of NPC include high-power-density inverters, enhanced output
quality, reduced number of components, reduced heat losses, increased efficiency, elimination of commonmode
voltages and currents thanks to an isolation transformer, and a remote transformer that allows for a more
adaptable footprint. Additionally, the NPC drive rectifier system (Transformer and diode H-bridges) has the
advantage of more simplicity, ease of assembly, fewer connections, fewer space requirements, and an
expensive isolation transformer. The MATLAB simulation for both topologies was carried out, with 3 phase
motor 3.8kV, 150 KW motor parameters.
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Keywords: Voltage Source Inverter, Medium Voltage Motor Driver, Cascade H-Bridge, Neutral Point
Clamped, topology, harmonic distortion, switching stress.
Pages: 130-137
DOI: 10.37394/23201.2024.23.13