Neutral-point clamped n-level multilevel converter without dead time and shoot-through problem

Abstract

A generalised n-level multilevel converter that has no shoot-through problem and thus is operated without dead time at each commutation is proposed. It is obtained by modifying the traditional neutral-point clamped multilevel converter topology based on dual-buck converter concept. The m-phase n-level converter can be readily constructed by using the proposed multilevel converter topology. The half-bridge five-level inverter, as an example case, is presented along with the operating principle and modulation and control methods. Experimental results show the feasibility and validity of the proposed converter.