Circuit simulation-based comparison of power electronics devices in a five-level converter for UAV applications

In this paper, the performance of a 5-level cascaded H-bridge inverter in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications is analized to identify, at the converter design stage, the better device choice depending on different UAV operation scenarios. Considering that regardless of the specific applicatio...

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Main Authors: Enrico Alfredo Bottaro, Cristina Ventura, Santi Agatino Rizzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIMS Press 2024-08-01
Series:AIMS Energy
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Online Access:https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2024042?viewType=HTML
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author Enrico Alfredo Bottaro
Cristina Ventura
Santi Agatino Rizzo
author_facet Enrico Alfredo Bottaro
Cristina Ventura
Santi Agatino Rizzo
author_sort Enrico Alfredo Bottaro
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, the performance of a 5-level cascaded H-bridge inverter in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications is analized to identify, at the converter design stage, the better device choice depending on different UAV operation scenarios. Considering that regardless of the specific application there are some typical operations, such as take-off, climb, land, cruise, and potential recurring climbs and descents, the results can support the choice by considering the typical working conditions of the specific application where the UAV would be used. The results have been obtained by simulating the H-bridge inverter considering the circuit models of insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), and Si and SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) provided by manufacturers. The study has highlighted that the choice of the device depends on the UAV usage, switching frequency, and load conditions. More specifically, considering the typical devices and systems costs in the case of a selective harmonic elimination procedure operating at the fundamental switching frequency, the Si devices should be used. Moreover, the preference for using IGBTs or Si MOSFETs depends on the typical working conditions of the UAV application. In the case of phase-shift carrier modulation technique, at 4 kHz the MOSFET is the best device and the choice between Si and SiC devices depends on the UAV application's main operation scenarios. At 20 kHz the SiC MOSFET is the best device, while at higher frequencies the GaN HEMT cost should be faced to take advantage of its best performance.
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spelling doaj-art-5cd4ea39b4e44223a8577986b2aa8eda2025-08-20T01:47:54ZengAIMS PressAIMS Energy2333-83342024-08-0112490592310.3934/energy.2024042Circuit simulation-based comparison of power electronics devices in a five-level converter for UAV applicationsEnrico Alfredo Bottaro 0Cristina Ventura1 Santi Agatino Rizzo2Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95125 CataniaDepartment of Electrical Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95125 CataniaDepartment of Electrical Electronic and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95125 CataniaIn this paper, the performance of a 5-level cascaded H-bridge inverter in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications is analized to identify, at the converter design stage, the better device choice depending on different UAV operation scenarios. Considering that regardless of the specific application there are some typical operations, such as take-off, climb, land, cruise, and potential recurring climbs and descents, the results can support the choice by considering the typical working conditions of the specific application where the UAV would be used. The results have been obtained by simulating the H-bridge inverter considering the circuit models of insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), and Si and SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) provided by manufacturers. The study has highlighted that the choice of the device depends on the UAV usage, switching frequency, and load conditions. More specifically, considering the typical devices and systems costs in the case of a selective harmonic elimination procedure operating at the fundamental switching frequency, the Si devices should be used. Moreover, the preference for using IGBTs or Si MOSFETs depends on the typical working conditions of the UAV application. In the case of phase-shift carrier modulation technique, at 4 kHz the MOSFET is the best device and the choice between Si and SiC devices depends on the UAV application's main operation scenarios. At 20 kHz the SiC MOSFET is the best device, while at higher frequencies the GaN HEMT cost should be faced to take advantage of its best performance.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2024042?viewType=HTMLmultilevel inverterunmanned aerial vehiclespower electronics devicecircuit modelcircuit simulation
spellingShingle Enrico Alfredo Bottaro
Cristina Ventura
Santi Agatino Rizzo
Circuit simulation-based comparison of power electronics devices in a five-level converter for UAV applications
AIMS Energy
multilevel inverter
unmanned aerial vehicles
power electronics device
circuit model
circuit simulation
title Circuit simulation-based comparison of power electronics devices in a five-level converter for UAV applications
title_full Circuit simulation-based comparison of power electronics devices in a five-level converter for UAV applications
title_fullStr Circuit simulation-based comparison of power electronics devices in a five-level converter for UAV applications
title_full_unstemmed Circuit simulation-based comparison of power electronics devices in a five-level converter for UAV applications
title_short Circuit simulation-based comparison of power electronics devices in a five-level converter for UAV applications
title_sort circuit simulation based comparison of power electronics devices in a five level converter for uav applications
topic multilevel inverter
unmanned aerial vehicles
power electronics device
circuit model
circuit simulation
url https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/energy.2024042?viewType=HTML
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