Multilevel Inverter for Hybrid Fuel Cell/PV Energy Conversion System

Abstract

Power converters assume a significant part in fuel cell power generation systems and solar power conversion systems which are an alternative to fossil fuel production systems. There is therefore a demand for high quality power conditioning used in PEMFC systems and photovoltaic panels. This chapter proposes a hybrid electric power (FC/PV) production strategy with the use of converter topology as the power interface and also introduces a three-level inverter topology for different operating levels. The converter increases the input voltage to the rated voltage and turns into a DC bus; the multi-level inverter converts the voltage to AC and supplies AC loads. This chapter develops a hybrid electric power generation strategy, which can produce output with positive and zero sequences. Integrating the three-stage inverter into the hybrid renewable energy (FC/PV) production system allows for near sinusoidal current with low THD. The topology of hybrid energy production using the multi-level converter is tested on Matlab.