DSP-based control of a high frequency three cell flying capacitor inverter.

The design, instrumentation and early operation results of a digitally controlled voltage source inverter (VSI) are described. This inverter has been structured from a three cell flying capacitor inverter (TCFCI). Two different inverter control modes - open-loop and closed-loop - are applied by a digital system based on a Texas Instrument TMS320C6713 digital signal processor (DSP) board. The VSI is able to generate AC voltage signals up to 120 V amplitudes at a maximal 6 A current, from ∼9 kHz to ∼60 kHz in ∼900 Hz steps in both controls by varying the signal period through the square-wave command strategy. The multi-cell structure of the inverter provides an output frequency nearly three times that of the TCFCI semiconductor commutation. The power output of the TCFCI can drive a high frequency step-up transformer which, in turn, is associated with a cylindrical reactor where dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) are conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]