Implementation of Asymmetrical Multi-Level Inverter Configuration using Extended Hexagonal Switched Cell in MATLAB/Simulink

This paper critically examines a novel extended HSC-based configuration capable of supporting both symmetrical and asymmetrical operations. The quest for optimizing classical multilevel inverter (MLI) topologies to minimize switch count has led to the emergence of various configurations known as reduced switch count (RSC) MLIs. Among these, the simplest are the T-type configurations. However, due to their limited asymmetric capability and absence of redundancies, researchers have endeavored to devise novel configurations employing the highly modular H-bridge structure. One such configuration is the hexagonal switched cell (HSC), comprising six switches interconnected in an anti-parallel manner using two unidirectional switches. Each HSC can independently function as a seven-level inverter with binary voltage ratios. Inspired by the HSC, several novel symmetrical and asymmetrical topologies have been developed to extend its capabilities to higher levels. The primary objective of this paper is to scrutinize the extended asymmetrical multilevel inverter topology based on HSC and implement it utilizing low-frequency-based PWM. To validate the operation of the proposed configuration with PWM, simulations are conducted in the Simulink environment using MATLAB.