Energy optimal pulse pattern for Z-source inverter to increase the efficiency of electric drive systems in automotive applications

In automotive applications, the Z-source inverter is a single stage inverter that provides the useful feature of boosting the DC-link voltage to a desired value independently of the battery voltage. The advantage of an adjustable DC-link voltage can be used as a degree of freedom for a loss minimized control of electric drives. However, the semiconductors experience high stress during boost operation. This paper presents pulse patterns that reduce power electronic losses during boost operation.