A NOVEL REDUCED-COMPONENT MULTILEVEL INVERTER FOR STANDALONE SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION USING FUZZY LOGIC CONTROLLER

Abstract

A multilevel inverter (MLI) is an advanced power conversion technology capable of generating near-sinusoidal output voltage for AC applications. Increasing the number of output voltage levels enhances the waveform quality but often results in a higher component count, greater power loss, and increased system complexity. This paper proposes a novel multilevel inverter topology with a reduced number of semiconductor switches and optimized performance using a Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC). The proposed inverter employs ten switches and two isolated DC sources, enabling multiple output voltage levels through asymmetric source management. Specifically, a 1:3 source ratio produces a seventeen-level output, while symmetric (1:1) and binary-asymmetric (1:2) configurations yield nine and thirteen levels, respectively, without altering the hardware configuration. The integration of the Fuzzy Logic Controller ensures intelligent control of switching angles and modulation, thereby improving voltage regulation, minimizing total harmonic distortion (THD), and enhancing dynamic response under varying load and irradiance conditions. The proposed topology exhibits lower component count level (CCL), reduced total blocking voltage (TBV), lower THD, and minimal switching losses, making it highly suitable for standalone solar photovoltaic (PV) applications. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed MLI topology combined with FLC in achieving high-quality sinusoidal output, improved system efficiency, and reliable power conversion for standalone solar energy systems.