Controlled Energy Flow in Z-Source Inverters

Abstract

This paper proposes a method to reduce the output voltage distortions in voltage source inverters (VSI) working with impedance networks. The three main reasons for the voltage distortions include a discontinuous current in the coils of the impedance network, the double output frequency harmonics in the VSI’s voltage output caused by insufficient capacitance in the impedance network, and voltage drops on the bridge switches during the shoot-through time. The first of these distortions can be reduced by increasing the current of the impedance network when the output VSI current is low. This method requires storing energy in the battery connected to the DC link of the VSI during the “non-shoot through” time. Furthermore, this solution can also be used when the Z-source inverter works with a photovoltaic cell to help it attain a maximum power point. The Z-source inverter is essentially a voltage source inverter with the Z-source in the input. In this paper, the theory behind basic impedance networks of Z-source and quasi-Z-source (qZ-source) is investigated where simulations of the presented solutions and experimental verification of the results are also presented.