A Comparative Review of Three Different Power Inverters for DC-AC Applications

This paper presents a comparative review of three different widely used power inverters, namely the conventional six-switch inverter; the reduced switch count four-switch inverter; and the eight-switch inverter. The later inverter can be reconfigured as a neutral-point diode-clamped inverter at the failure of one inverter leg. The three power inverters are compared and discussed with respect to cost, complexity, losses, common mode voltage, and control techniques. The paper is intended to serve as a guide regarding selecting the appropriate inverter for each specific application. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the three power inverters, followed by a comprehensive comparison between the three power inverters.