INVERTER
(DC-to-AC Converter)
INVERTER
(DC-to-AC Converter)
The process of conversion of a dc power into an ac power at a desired
output voltage and frequency is called inversion and the converters used
for this dc-to-ac inversion is known as inverters.
BLOCK DIAGRAM
IDC Iac
+ +
VDC Vac
Fig. 1 Block diagram of inverter
Applications
Inverters are used in various applications requiring variable voltage,
variable frequency ac supply. Some important applications are:
Variable speed ac motor drives
Induction heating
Standby power supply
Uninterruptible power supply
High voltage dc transmission
Types of Inverter
Inverter
Line- Self-
commutated commutated
Inverter Inverter
- Single-phase inverter
- Three-phase inverter
Current Voltage
Source Source
Inverter Inverter
Current Voltage Square
Controlled PWM
Controlled Wave
VSI Inverter
VSI Inverter
Half Full
Fig. 2 Classification of inverter type Bridge Bridge
Inverter Inverter
Types of Inverter
The line commutated inverter uses a switching device like a commutating thyristor that can
control the timing of turn-on while it cannot control the timing of turn-off by itself. Turn-off
should be performed by reducing circuit current to zero with the help of supplemental
circuit or source.
Conversely, the self-commutated inverter is characterized in that it uses a switching device
that can freely control the ON-state and the OFF-state, such as IGBT and MOSFET. The self-
commutated inverter
can freely control the voltage and current waveform at the AC side,
adjust the power factor
suppress the harmonic current
highly resistant to utility system disturbance.
Due to advances in switching devices, most inverters for distributed power sources such as
photovoltaic power generation now employ a self-commutated inverter.
Types of Inverter
The Self-commutated inverters can broadly be classified
as
- Current source inverters (CSI)
- Voltage source inverters (VSI)
Types of Inverter
Current Source Inverter (CSI)
A CSI converts the input dc current to an ac current
at its output terminals.
The inverter is fed by a ‘current source’ with a high internal
impedance (using current limiting chokes or inductor in series with a
dc source).
Supply current does not change quickly.
The load current is varied by controlling the input dc voltage (thus
controlling input dc current) to the CSI.
The output frequency of ac current depends upon the rate of
triggering the SCRs.
Iin Iout
+
VDC
-
CSI
Types of Inverter
Voltage Source Inverter (VSI)
The input is a constant dc voltage source of small internal
impedance.
Looking from the ac side, the terminal voltage remains almost
constant irrespective of the load current drawn.
The constant voltage at the input may be obtained by connecting a
large capacitor.
Vout
Iout
Vin
+
VDC
-
VSI
Types of Inverter
Depending on control mechanism voltage source
inverters can also be classified as
- Current Controlled Voltage Source Inverter (CCVSI)
- Voltage Controlled Voltage Source Inverter (VCVSI)
Types of Inverter
In Distributed Generation System (DGS), VCVSIs use
the amplitude and phase of an inverter output voltage
relative to the grid voltage to control the power flow.
In VCVSIs, the desired current flow is generated
by controlling the voltage across the decoupling
inductor.
Ig
Vo Vg
AC
utility
grid
VSI
Types of Inverter
The CCVSI uses switching instants to generate
the desired current flow in the VSI’s inductor
filter, using instantaneous current feedback
Ig
Vo Vg
AC
utility
grid
VSI
Types of Inverter
Voltage source inverters can also be classified as
- Square wave inverter
- Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) inverter
Types of Inverter
Square wave invertrer Vout
Vin
A square-wave inverter produces a square-
+
wave ac voltage of a constant magnitude. VDC
-
The output voltage of this type of inverter can
VSI
only be varied by controlling the input DC
voltage.
Types of Inverter
Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) inverter
Vout
In a PWM inverter, the output has one or Vin
more pulses in each half-cycle. Varying the
+
width of these pulses, the output voltage
VDC
may be controlled. -
The magnitude of input DC voltage is VSI
essentially constant in this inverter.
There are many techniques of the pulse-
width modulation.
Voltage Source Inverter (VSI)
With Variable DC link
• DC link voltage is varied by a DC-to DC converter or
controlled rectifier.
• Generate “square wave” output voltage.
• Output voltage amplitude is varied as DC link is varied.
• Frequency of output voltage is varied by changing the
frequency of the square wave pulses
Voltage Source Inverter (VSI)
With Variable DC link
• Advantages
Simple waveform generation
Reliable
• Disadvantages
Extra conversion stage
Poor harmonics
Voltage Source Inverter (VSI)
With Fixed DC link
DC voltage is held constant.
Output voltage amplitude and frequency are
varied simultaneously using PWM technique.
Good harmonic control, but at the expense of complex
waveform generation
Single Phase Half-bridge Inverter
Vo
Also known as the “inverter leg”.
Basic building block for full bridge, three phase and higher order inverters.
G is the “centre point”.
Both capacitors have the same value. Thus the DC link is equally “split" into
two.
Single Phase Half-bridge Inverter
The top and bottom switch has to be complementary”, i.e. If the top switch is
closed (on), the bottom must be off, and vice-versa.
In practical, a dead time as shown below is required to avoid “shoot-through”
faults.
Single Phase Half-bridge Inverter
With Resistive Load (R)
Single Phase Half-bridge Inverter
With Inductive Load (RL)
• Mode I : D1 on, S2 off
• Mode II : S1 on, D1 off
Single Phase Half-bridge Inverter
With Inductive Load (RL)
• Mode III : D2 on, S1 off
• Mode IV : S2 on, D2 off
Single Phase Half-bridge Inverter
With Inductive Load (RL)
Single Phase Full (H)-bridge Inverter
S3
• Full bridge (single phase) is built from two half-bridge leg.
• The switching is delayed by 1800
H-BRIDGE INVERTER Corresponding values of Vab
•A+ closed and B– closed, Vab = Vdc
Vdc •A+ closed and B+ closed, Vab = 0
•B+ closed and A– closed, Vab = –Vdc
•B– closed and A– closed, Vab = 0
A+ B+
+ Vdc − • The free wheeling diodes permit current
to flow even if all switches are open
a Load b • These diodes also permit lagging
currents to flow in inductive loads
A– B–
Vload V A VB V AB
H-BRIDGE INVERTER Corresponding values of Vab
•A+ closed and B– closed, Vab = Vdc
Vdc •A+ closed and B+ closed, Vab = 0
•B+ closed and A– closed, Vab = –Vdc
•B– closed and A– closed, Vab = 0
A+ B+
+0− • The free wheeling diodes permit current
to flow even if all switches are open
a Load b • These diodes also permit lagging
currents to flow in inductive loads
A– B–
Vload V A VB V AB
H-BRIDGE INVERTER Corresponding values of Vab
•A+ closed and B– closed, Vab = Vdc
Vdc •A+ closed and B+ closed, Vab = 0
•B+ closed and A– closed, Vab = –Vdc
•B– closed and A– closed, Vab = 0
A+ B+
− Vdc + • The free wheeling diodes permit current
to flow even if all switches are open
a Load b • These diodes also permit lagging
currents to flow in inductive loads
A– B–
Vload V A VB V AB
H-BRIDGE INVERTER Corresponding values of Vab
•A+ closed and B– closed, Vab = Vdc
Vdc •A+ closed and B+ closed, Vab = 0
•B+ closed and A– closed, Vab = –Vdc
•B– closed and A– closed, Vab = 0
A+ B+
+0− • The free wheeling diodes permit current
to flow even if all switches are open
a Load b • These diodes also permit lagging
currents to flow in inductive loads
A– B–
Vload V A VB V AB
Basic Square Wave Operation
Corresponding values of Vab
•A+ closed and B– closed, Vab = Vdc
•A+ closed and B+ closed, Vab = 0
•B+ closed and A– closed, Vab = –Vdc
Vload
•B– closed and A– closed, Vab = 0
Vdc
−Vdc
The Vab = 0 time is not required but can be used to
reduce the rms value of Vload
H-BRIDGE INVERTER
• Square wave modulation:
Load Current Can Always Flow, Regardless of Switching State
Example - when current flows left to right through the load
Vdc
A+ B+
here
or here
Va Load Vb
A– B–
here
or here
Load Current Can Always Flow, cont.
Example - when current flows right to left through the load
Vdc
A+ B+
here
here
Va Load Vb
A– B–
or here
or here
Load Current Can Always Flow, cont.
H BRIDGE INVERTER Corresponding values of Vab
• A+ closed and B– closed, Vab = Vdc
Vdc • A+ closed and B+ closed, Vab = 0
• B+ closed and A – closed, Vab = –Vdc
• B –closed and A – closed, Vab = 0
A+ B+
• Load consuming power
• Load generating power
+ Vdc −
Va Load Vb
A– B–
Load Current Can Always Flow, cont.
H BRIDGE INVERTER Corresponding values of Vab
• A+ closed and B– closed, Vab = Vdc
Vdc • A+ closed and B+ closed, Vab = 0
• B+ closed and A – closed, Vab = – Vdc
• B –closed and A – closed, Vab = 0
A+ B+
• Load consuming power
• Load generating power
+ Vdc −
Va Load Vb
A– B–
The four firing circuits do not have the same ground reference.
Thus, the firing circuits require isolation.
Vdc
(source of power delivered to load)
A+ B+
Local ground Local ground
reference for A+ reference forB+
firing circuit firing circuit
S Load S
A– B–
Local ground Local ground
reference for A− reference forB−
firing circuit firing circuit
S S
AC Waveforms
IN V E R T E R O U T P U T V O L T A G E
V dc
-V dc
FUNDAM ENTAL COM PONENT
V1
4V D C
3 R D H A R M O N IC
V1
3
5 R D H A R M O N IC
V1
5
H-BRIDGE INVERTER
• Harmonics with square wave modulation
Harmonics Filtering
DC SUPPLY IN V E R T E R (L O W P A S S ) F IL T E R LOAD
L
+ +
C
vO 1 vO 2
B E F O R E F IL T E R IN G A F T E R F IL T E R IN G
vO 1 vO 2
Output of the inverter is “chopped AC voltage with zero DC
component”. It contain harmonics.
An LC section low-pass filter is normally fitted at the inverter
output to reduce the high frequency harmonics.
In some applications such as UPS, “high purity” sine wave output
is required. Good filtering is a must.
In some applications such as AC motor drive, filtering is not
required.
Modified Sine Wave (MSW) Inverter
Pure Sine Wave (PSW) Inverter
Modified Sine Wave (MSW) Inverter
In a modified sine wave,
- the voltage rises and falls abruptly,
- the phase angle also changes abruptly and
- it sits at 0 Volts for some time before changing
its polarity.
Pure Sine Wave (PSW) Inverter
The output voltage of a pure sine-wave
inverter has a sine wave-form like the sine
wave-form of the mains / utility voltage.
In a pure sine wave,
- the voltage rises and falls smoothly
- the phase angle also changes smoothly
- it changes its polarity instantly when it
crosses 0 Volts.
Modified Sine Wave (MSW) Inverter
Modified sine wave inverters are very affordable, all
purpose inverters.
Using a more basic form of technology than pure sine wave
inverters, they produce power which is perfectly adequate
for powering simple electronics.
Modified sine wave inverters are used to provide power for
less sensitive appliances like phone chargers, heaters and air
conditioners.
Modified inverters are best suited for resistive loads which
don't have a start up surge.
Modified Sine Wave (MSW) Inverter
Any device that uses a control circuitry that senses the phase (for voltage
/ speed control) or instantaneous zero voltage crossing (for timing control)
will not work properly from a voltage that has a modified sine wave-form.
Also, as the modified sine wave is a form of square wave, it is comprised
of multiple sine waves of odd harmonics (multiples) of the fundamental
frequency of the modified sine wave.
The high frequency harmonic content in a modified sine wave produces
enhanced radio interference and higher heating effect in motors.
When compared to a true sine wave inverter, a modified sine wave
inverter usually creates a buzzing sound in electrical equipment. While this
isn't dangerous, many people find the sound to be irritating.
Modified Sine Wave (MSW) Inverter
Some examples of devices that may not work properly with modified sine wave and
may also get damaged are given below:
Laser printers, photocopiers,
The built-in clocks in devices such as clock radios, alarm clocks, coffee makers, bread-
makers, microwave ovens etc may not keep time correctly
Output voltage control devices like dimmers, ceiling fan / motor speed control may
not work properly (dimming / speed control may not function)
Sewing machines with microprocessor control
Some new furnaces with microprocessor control
High intensity discharge (HID) lamps like Metal Halide lamps. These may get damaged.
Pure Sine Wave (PSW) Inverter
The output wave-form is a sine-wave with very low
harmonic distortion and clean power like utility supplied
electricity
Inductive loads like microwaves and motors run faster,
quieter and cooler
Reduces audible and electrical noise in fans, fluorescent
lights, audio amplifiers, TV and fax.
Prevents crashes in computers, weird print outs and
glitches in monitors
