A Comparison of Three-Level Converters Versus Two-Level Converters for Low-Voltage Drives, Traction, and Utility Applications
Abstract
This paper evaluates three-level topologies as alternatives to two-level topologies in converters for low-voltage applications. Topologies, semiconductor losses, filter aspects, part count, initial cost, and life-cycle cost are compared for a grid interface, a conventional drive application, and a high-speed drive application.
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The higher the switching frequency, the more superior the multilevel inverter is.
“Consequently, the higher the switching frequency, the more superior the multilevel inverter is [97].”
From A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends (2021) · cites this paper as [97]
Reduced filter cost has resulted in a 3% lower system cost in the case of three-level NPC inverter.
“It can be seen that reduced filter cost has resulted in a 3% lower system cost in case of three-level NPC inverter.”
From A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends (2021) · cites this paper as [97]
By comparing same-technology IGBTs with different rated voltages, a series connection of two low-voltage IGBTs in a multilevel inverter will have lower power loss than a single high-voltage IGBT in a two-level structure.
“By comparing same-technology IGBTs with different rated voltages, it can be resulted that a series connection of two low-voltage IGBTs in a multilevel inverter will have lower power loss than a single high-voltage IGBT in a two-level structure.”
From A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends (2021) · cites this paper as [97]
Since cabling, control electronics, and fan failures have a higher failure rate than semiconductors, the higher efficiency of multilevel inverters increases reliability by reducing the temperature inside the system.
“Moreover, since cabling, control electronics, and fan failures have a higher failure rate than semiconductors, the higher efficiency of multilevel inverters increase reliability by reducing the temperature inside the system [97].”
From A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends (2021) · cites this paper as [97]
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Schweizer, M., & Kolar, J. W. (2013) · IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics · doi:10.1109/tpel.2012.2203151 · Cited by 1,006 · see citing works
A Review of Multilevel Inverter Topologies in Electric Vehicles: Current Status and Future Trends
Poorfakhraei, A., Narimani, M., & Emadi, A. (2021) · IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics · doi:10.1109/ojpel.2021.3063550 · Cited by 424 · see citing works
“Another comparison has been made in [97] between a conventional two-level inverter with a three-level NPC inverter.”
BackgroundInfluentialAutomotive Traction Inverters: Current Status and Future Trends
Reimers, J., Dorn-Gomba, L., Mak, C., & Emadi, A. (2019) · IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology · doi:10.1109/tvt.2019.2897899 · Cited by 375 · see citing works
Modular Multilevel Converters for Transportation Electrification: Challenges and Opportunities
Ronanki, D., & Williamson, S. S. (2018) · IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification · doi:10.1109/tte.2018.2792330 · Cited by 345 · see citing works
Hannan, M. A., Ker, P. J., Lipu, M. S. H., Choi, Z. H., Rahman, M. S. A., Muttaqi, K. M., & Blaabjerg, F. (2020) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2020.2967345 · Cited by 339 · see citing works
A Review of Modulation and Control Techniques for Multilevel Inverters in Traction Applications
Poorfakhraei, A., Narimani, M., & Emadi, A. (2021) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2021.3056612 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Performance Evaluation of Fault-Tolerant Neutral-Point-Clamped Converters
Ceballos, S., Pou, J., Robles, E., Zaragoza, J., & Martín, J. L. (2010) · IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics · doi:10.1109/tie.2009.2026710 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Rana, R. A., Patel, S. A., Muthusamy, A., Lee, C. W., & Kim, H.-J. (2019) · Electronics · doi:10.3390/electronics8111329 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Design Considerations of a GaN-based Three-Level Traction Inverter for Electric Vehicles
Satpathy, S., Das, P. P., Bhattacharya, S., & Veliadis, V. (2022) · 2022 IEEE 9th Workshop on Wide Bandgap Power Devices & Applications (WiPDA) · doi:10.1109/wipda56483.2022.9955248 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
- Authors
- Teichmann, R., & Bernet, S.
- Affiliations
- GE Global Research (United States) (US)
- Technische Universität Berlin (DE)
- ORCID
- Bernet, S.
- Venue
- IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 855-865
- ISSN
- 0093-9994 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2137265371
- Cited by
- 578
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 55 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 29
- FWCI
- 10.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Multilevel Inverters and Converters
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Electric Power Systems and Control
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Sensorless Control of Electric Motors
- Keywords
- three-level converter, two-level converter, low-voltage drive, traction drives, semiconductor switching losses, filter design, initial cost, life cycle cost, high-speed drives
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