Pure Sinusoidal Output Single-Phase Current-Source Inverter with Minimized Switching Losses and Reduced Output Filter Size

This paper proposes a novel single-phase current-source inverter that generates a pure sinusoidal waveform with minimized switching losses and using a small-size output filter capacitor. The proposed method is investigated by incorporating a conventional multilevel current-source inverter with a linear amplifier. The conventional multilevel technique uses fundamental switching frequency instead of using high-switching frequency modulation for the H-bridge circuit. The linear amplifier such as class-A or class-D types has a function to reform the staircase waveform generated by the multilevel inverter into a pure sinusoidal by using superimposition technique. As a result, pure sinusoidal output current is generated with a small ripple and the system only requires a small output filter capacitor for smoothing the waveform. Based on the simulation and experimental results, the proposed system presents not only the optimal configuration, but also an option as to whether to obtain excellent power efficiency or very low output harmonic. Implications of the results and future research directions are also presented.