Output Spectrum Modeling of an H-Bridge Inverter with Dead-Time Based on Switching Mode Analysis

The distortion of an H-bridge inverter can originate from many nonlinear factors, of which the most dominant one is typically the dead-time. In previous research, analytical models have been proposed to calculate the output spectrum of the H-bridge inverter. However, the existing models have not fully explored the effects of soft-switching and discontinuous conduction mode, which might severely degrade their accuracy. In this paper, the characteristics and the corresponding effects of these switching modes are analysed. Constraint functions are proposed in order to determine the time position of each switching mode. Based on this analysis, a numerical model of the output spectrum of the H-bridge inverter is then introduced. The model is shown to have a significantly improved accuracy compared to the previous analytical models especially for large inductor current ripples. The accuracy improvement is confirmed by simulation and measurements on an experimental prototype.