Triple-Voltage Gain and Self-Balancing in a New Switched-Capacitor Seven-Level Inverter for Microgrid Integration
Salem M. Swadi M. Richelli A. Muralev Y. Mohamed F.A.
February 2026Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Energies
2026#19Issue 4
In the context of power electronic interfaces in photovoltaic (PV), fuel cell, battery, and microgrid applications, the low output voltage of the DC source necessitates a voltage-boosting inverter. This paper proposes a single-source seven-level switched-capacitor boost inverter, particularly for low-voltage applications. The proposed inverter has the capability to produce seven different output voltage levels, i.e., intermediate boosted levels, with a total gain of three times the input voltage. The inverter has the advantage of a reduced number of power switches, diodes, and a switched-capacitor unit, which allows for single-stage operation without the need for a second DC-DC converter. The operating principle of the proposed inverter is explained in detail with a complete switching state analysis, conduction path analysis, and output voltage generation. The capacitor size is calculated using a charge balance-based equation. The self-balancing capability is validated for mismatched initial voltages with a bounded steady-state ripple. To evaluate the performance of the proposed inverter in a more realistic scenario, the effects of non-ideal device characteristics are considered, and the efficiency of the inverter is estimated using a loss model. A predictive current control technique is applied to control the output current under inductive load conditions. The simulation results obtained in MATLAB/Simulink software validate the proper seven-level operation of the inverter, the self-balancing capability of the capacitors, improved output waveform quality, and current control. The proposed inverter can be extended to grid-connected applications, where conventional output filters can be applied to meet the harmonic standards.
low voltage stress , multilevel inverter , PV system , seven-level boost inverter , switch capacitor , switched-capacitor structure
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Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Viet Nam
School of Engineering & Technology, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Viet Nam
Libyan Authority for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 80045, Tripoli, Libya
Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, 10001, Iraq
Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia, Brescia, 25123, Italy
Institute for Sustainable Development of Arid Areas, Yessenov University, 32nd District, 1, Aktau, 130000, Kazakhstan
Institute of Research and Development
School of Engineering & Technology
Libyan Authority for Scientific Research
Department of Electrical Engineering
Department of Information Engineering
Institute for Sustainable Development of Arid Areas
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