RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Comparative analysis of three- and five-level NPC converters with predictive current control for reactive power compensation: simulation study and experimental validation of the three-level topology
A1 Paredes Bustto, Oscar Daniel
A1 Pacher Vega, Julio César
A1 Renault López, Alfredo
A1 Rodas Benítez, Jorge Esteban
A1 Comparatore Franco, Leonardo David
A1 Paredes Bustto, Carlos David
A1 Maidana Rojas, Paola Carolina
A1 Medina Morel, Christian David
A1 Lezcano Delvalle, Hugo Hernán
A1 Gómez Redondo, Marcos Alberto
A1 Rivera Abarca, Marco Esteban
A1 Wheerler, Patrick William
AB This paper presents a comparative analysis of three-level (3L-NPC) and five-level (5L-NPC) Neutral-Point-Clamped converters using Finite Control Set Model Predictive Control (FCS-MPC) for reactive power compensation. The research addresses a critical gap by providing a direct performance comparison under identical operating conditions, supported by simulation and experimental validation of a 3L-NPC prototype. The study evaluates harmonic performance, dynamic response, and DC-link balance. Results demonstrate that the 5L-NPC topology significantly outperforms the 3L-NPC, achieving a simulated grid current Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of 3.36% compared to 7.84% for the 3L-NPC. This 57.1% reduction in THD allows the 5L-NPC to comply with the IEEE Std. 519-2022 limit (<5%), whereas the 3L-NPC experimental results (9.9% THD) highlight the impact of practical non-idealities such as dead time and sensor noise. While the 5L-NPC offers superior power quality, it entails higher hardware complexity, evaluating 125 switching states compared to 27 in the 3L-NPC. These findings provide quantitative guidelines for selecting NPC topologies in high-performance grid compensation systems.
PB Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
YR 2026
FD 2026-06-24
LK http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14066/4795
UL http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14066/4795
LA eng
NO Paredes, O., Pacher, J., Renault, A., Rodas, J., Comparatore, L., Paredes, C., Maidana, P., Medina, C., Lezcano, H., Gómez, M., Rivera, M., & Wheeler, P. (2026). Comparative Analysis of Three- and Five-Level NPC Converters with Predictive Current Control for Reactive Power Compensation: Simulation Study and Experimental Validation of the Three-Level Topology. Applied Sciences, 16(13), 6331. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16136331
NO Correspondence: oparedes@fiuna.edu.py.
NO This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the 6th International Electronic Conference on Applied Sciences.
NO Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología
DS MINDS@UW
RD 03-sep-2026