Computerized Performance Validation for a Solar Inverter with Flash-Memory-Based PWM

This paper further develops the concept of very large size flash-memory-based pulse-width-modulation (PWM) with an application to a three-phase IGBT solar inverter. Using flash memory demonstrates a low-cost alternative to advanced processors and allows the implementation of multiple optimization methods for current harmonics reduction or efficiency improvement. A previously-reported optimized solution is applied herein and both thermal regime and efficiency are analyzed using PSIM models to prove a 33% semiconductor power loss reduction near highest modulation index and near unity power factor. This translates to the new flash PWM method providing around 1.5% higher efficiency when using the European or California efficiency standards for solar industry, compared to a typical -91% (European) efficient conventional IGBT solar inverter using the same devices. Finally, results for GaN transistors are discussed.