Switching angles calculation through Mathematical optimization in Multilevel Inverters

The Inverter is a DC/AC type Power Converter and is an important part of Electrical Power Networks because several energy source outputs are in DC form. In the mid-80s, the Multilevel Inverter (MLI) was developed. Its output is a staircase waveform, which approximates the sinusoidal waveform of the Power Network. Approximation improves as the number of stairs (levels) increases. But due to practical difficulties, concerning the circuit layout and the implementation of a suitable control strategy for the switching elements, eleven levels output is a common practice. Research interest around MLIs abounds due to the advantages they offer compared to classical DC/AC Inverters. MLIs may lead to new circuit layouts with fewer components, novel and more effective control strategies for the switching elements and to the development of new modulation methods for calculating the time of activation and deactivation of the switching elements. In this paper we propose a new modulation method based on the technique of Mathematical optimization.