UPEC2010 31st Aug - 3rd Sept 2010

Optimization of Specific Harmonics in Multilevel Converters by GA & PSO

M. Sarvi
Imam Khomeini International University Qazvin, Iran sarvi@ikiu.ac.ir

M. R. Salimian
Imam Khomeini International University Qazvin, Iran bmsalimian@yahoo.com

Abstract- Using multilevel inverters in fuel cell & solar cell & wind turbines is increasing. Harmonic reduction techniques in multilevel inverters are considered. Mathematical methods for reducing the harmonic are presented in some of the literatures Mathematical methods are not suitable for high level inverters. These methods analyze harmonics with constant output voltage of each inverter. In this paper, two algorithms: 1-genetic algorithm and 2- PSO is used to optimize THD in Multilevel inverters. Theoretical and simulated results are used to compare these techniques. In addition, this paper proposes a method for optimization of specific harmonics and improving the characteristics of switching in multilevel inverters. In this method, the switching angle of each levels and the output voltage of them is determined and is used for optimization. Then the effect of changing in the output voltage of each inverter on reduction of one or more specific harmonic is analyzed. Index Terms-- Multilevel Converter, Harmonic, Optimization, Genetic Algorithm, PSO.

II. OPTIMIZING THD IN MULTILEVEL INVERTERS Optimizing THD in multilevel inverters is performed by tuning two variables, switching angle & amplitude of each level. THD is obtained from the output signal with the amplitude of 1 volt. The total amplitude of output signal is obtained from the summation of levels and equal to expected main component. Typically, diagram of 7 levels inverter is shown in Fig. 1. Optimization is done for two inverters with 41 and 21 levels. Optimization with 41 levels is performed by 40 variables, whereas 20 variables are related to the switching angle and 20 variables are related to amplitude of each level. Optimization for 21 levels inverter is done by 20 variables, whereas 10 variables are related to the switching angle and 10 variables are related to amplitude of each level. Objective function 1 is the value of THD for 3th to 455th harmonics that expression in (1).

I.

INTRODUCTION

THD =

455

Using multilevel inverters in fuel cell & solar cell & wind turbines is increasing. Harmonic reduction techniques in multilevel inverters are considered. Mathematical methods for reducing the harmonic are presented in some of the literatures [1, 2]. Mathematical methods are not suitable for high level inverters. Some ways for tuning the Switching angle with GA method is presented in [3]. A different method for reducing harmonic is presented in [4, 5]. These methods analyze harmonics with constant output voltage of each inverter. PWM techniques are suggested in [6-7]. These methods are very complex. In this paper, two algorithms: 1-genetic algorithm and 2- PSO are used to optimize THD in multilevel inverters. Theoretical and simulated results are used to compare the advantages and defects of these techniques. In addition, this paper proposes a method for optimization of specific harmonics and improving the characteristics of switching in multilevel inverters. In this method, the switching angle of each levels and the output voltage of them is determined and is used for optimization. Then the effect of changing in the output voltage of each inverter on reduction of one or more specific harmonic is analyzed.

h=3

Vh

V1

(1)

THD is obtaining by FFT (Fast Fourier Transform). The sampling frequency is 1000 Hz.

Fig. 1. Diagram of 7 levels inverter [3]

Switching angle is between 0 and 90. Switching angles for 7 levels inverter are shown in Fig. 2.

455th harmonics (including the odd harmonic) in GA for 41 levels inverter are shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 2. Switching angles for 7 levels inverter [3]

The simulations are performed with MATLAB facilities. GA and PSO are done by TOOLBOX MATLAB 7.6 and TOOLBOX MATLAB 2005 respectively. The amount of population size in both algorithms is 1000. Comparisons of two algorithms have performed in 150 generations. III. SIMULATION RESULTS Values of the objective function that obtained from GA and PSO for 41 levels inverter in different generations are shown in Figs. 3-4.

Fig. 4. Best values of objective function in PSO for 41 levels inverter

TABLE I COMPARISON OF CALCULATED THD FOR TWO ALGORITHMS (GA, PSO) IN DIFFERENT GENERATION FOR 41 LEVELS INVERTER. Gen PSO GA Gen PSO GA 25 3.705612% 2.52% 100 2.12265% 2.05% 50 2.40436% 2.2% 125 2.11115% 2.02% 75 2.12373% 2.1% 150 2.11115% 2.0008%

TABLE II SWITCHING ANGLES AND THE AMPLITUDE OF EACH LEVEL FOR 41 LEVELS INVERTER WHICH OBTAIN FROM GA. Switching angles 32.76 40.68 13.32 10.08 Fig. 3. Best & mean values of objective function in GA for 41 levels inverter Amplitude of levels 0.0545 0.0425 0.0614 0.0462 0.0399 0.0505 0.0376 0.0465 0.0488 0.0389 Switching angles 44.28 78.12 28.8 7.2 48.96 18.72 36.72 4.68 23.76 69.84 Amplitude of levels 0.0595 0.0295 0.0695 0.0482 0.0609 0.0343 0.0609 0.0554 0.0658 0.049

Values of the objective function 1 (THD) for 41 levels inverter, which compare two algorithms in different generations, are shown in Table I. Switching angles and the amplitude of each level for 41 levels inverter which obtain from GA are shown in Table II. The final amount of THD after 150 generations in GA is 2.0008% and the amplitude of the main component harmonic is 1.0094 volt. The final amount of THD after 250 generations in PSO is 2.097% and the amplitude of the main component harmonic is 1.0109 volt. Output signal for 41 levels inverter that obtained from genetic algorithm is shown in Fig. 5. Amplitude of 3rd to

20.88 55.08 64.08 16.56 1.44 59.04

Voltage (V)

Voltage (V)

Table III is shown the comparison of calculated THD for two algorithms (GA, PSO) for 21 levels inverter. Switching angles and the amplitude of each level for 21 levels inverter which obtain from GA are shown in Table IV. Output signal for 21 levels inverter that obtained from genetic algorithm is shown in Fig. 7.

Time (s) Fig. 7. Output signal for 21 levels inverter that obtained from GA.

IV. EFFECT OF CHANGING IN THE OUTPUT VOLTAGE OF EACH

INVERTER ON SPECIFIC HARMONICS Time (s) Fig. 5. Output signal for 41 levels inverter that obtained from GA.

Voltage (V)

Since the amplitude of each level that obtained from GA for 41 levels inverter is almost equal to others, GA with equal voltage amplitude for all levels is performed. By reducing variables, the amount of the objective function 1 has improved and reaches to 1.927%. But can been decreased the amount of specific harmonics by changing the amplitude of each level. By using this method the inverter harmonics moves to higher frequency. By using GA, the amplitude of 3rd, 5th and 7th harmonics can decreased. Objective function is presented in (2).

Objective Function = ( V3 + V5 + V7 ) / V1

(2)

Harmonic Order Fig. 6. Amplitude of 3th to 455th harmonics in GA for 41 levels inverter. TABLE III COMPARISON OF CALCULATED THD FOR TWO ALGORITHMS (GA, PSO) IN DIFFERENT GENERATION FOR 21 LEVELS INVERTER. Gen PSO GA Gen PSO GA 25 5.282% 4.41% 100 3.850% 3.76% 50 4.02% 4.1% 125 3.757% 3.73% 75 3.92% 3.81% 150 3.766% 3.73% TABLE IV SWITCHING ANGLES AND THE AMPLITUDE OF EACH LEVEL FOR 21 LEVELS INVERTER WHICH OBTAIN FROM GA. Switching Amplitude of Switching Amplitude of angles levels angles levels 3.24 50.04 42.48 29.88 23.04 0.1112 0.1014 0.0861 0.1037 0.1118 9.36 71.64 36.72 15.84 60.12 0.1106 0.0718 0.0914 0.1165 0.0956

Objective function 2 that obtained from GA with changing the amplitude of each level is equal 1.2727e-5%. Objective function 2 that obtained from GA with constant amplitude of each level is equal 0.011161%; this value is almost a thousand times of before state. 3rd, 5th and 7th harmonics that obtained from GA by constant and variable levels are shown in Figs. 8-9.

Amplitude (V)

Harmonic Order Fig. 8. Amplitude of 3th and 5th and 7th Harmonics that obtained from GA by constant levels.

Amplitude (V)

Harmonic Order Fig. 9. Amplitude of 3th , 5th and 7th Harmonics that obtained from GA by variable levels.

V.

CONCLUSION

In this paper, genetic algorithm and PSO are used to optimize THD in multilevel inverters. Theoretical and simulated results are used to compare the charactristics of these techniques. Comparison GA with PSO shows that GA is better for optimizing THD in multilevel converters. The amplitude of specific harmonics can be decreased better by changing the amplitude of each level in comparison of assuming constant amplitude. REFERENCES
[1] J. Chiasson, L. M. Tolbert, K. McKenzie, and Z. Du, Eliminating harmonics in a multilevel converter using resultant theory, in Proc. IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conf., 2002, pp. 503508. [2] J. Chiasson, L. M. Tolbert, A unified approach to solving the harmonic elimination equations in multilevel converters, IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 478490, Mar. 2004. [3] B. Ozpineci, L. M. Tolbert, and J. N. Chiasson, Harmonic optimization of multilevel converters using genetic algorithms, in Proc. IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conf., 2004, pp. 39113916. [4] J. R. Wells, B. M. Nee, P. L. Chapman, and P. T. Krein, Optimal harmonic elimination control, in Proc. IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conf., 2004, pp. 39113916. [5] J. Vassallo, J. C. Clare, and P. W. Wheeler, A power-equalized harmonic elimination scheme for utility-connected cascaded H-bridge multilevel converters, in Proc. IEEE Industrial Electronics Conf., 2003, pp. 1185 1190. [6] Z. Du, L. M. Tolbert, and J. N. Chiasson, Harmonic elimination for multilevel converter with programmed PWM method, in Proc. IEEE Industry Applications Soc. Annu. Meeting, 2004, pp. 22102215. [7] T. Bruckner, D. G. Holmes, Optimal pulse-width modulation for threelevel inverters, IEEE Trans. Power Electron., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 8289, Jan. 2005.