Abstract

When multiple loads need to be supplied with variable voltage and/or frequency, one of the interests is to reduce the number of power devices of the topology used, in order to reduce the cost and volume of the converter. This paper proposes a topology that combines features of standard two- and three-level converters with reduced number of switches. The converter is capable to produce a quasi-three-level output voltage and is suitable to supply multiple loads. In this work, the topology is proposed to be used in a multiple-machine solar pumping system. The converter is operated to extract the maximum available power from a photovoltaic array and a predictive control strategy is proposed to regulate the machine currents as well as to balance the voltages of the converter input capacitors. Simulations of the system considering two pump drives are presented and discussed.