Matlab Simulink Modelling of a Single-Phase

Voltage Controlled Voltage Source Inverter

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a Matlab Simulink model of a
single-phase 2kVA Voltage Controlled Voltage Source
Inverter. Load voltage RMS feedback control and open-
loop control are used to compare the standard Matlab
Simulink and power system blocksets used for the
inverter model design. Simulation and experimental
results using linear and non-linear loads are used to
validate the accuracy of the model developed.
1. INTRODUCTION
Voltage controlled voltage source inverters (VCVSIs)
are widely used in power supplies, power quality
controllers, renewable energy, marine and military
applications [1]. They are at the heart of applications
requiring an AC supply from a DC source. Therefore it
is important that they are designed to be robust and
efficient, especially in remote areas and renewable
energy applications where inverter failure can cause
inconvenience and the available energy is limited. The
design of inverters can be improved using software
packages suitable for this application such as Matlab
Simulink [2] and PSIM [3]. This can provide insight into
the inverter performance and allows for the analysis of
the design before it is implemented in hardware and
software, which can lead to improved performance and
reduced development and production costs.
In this paper, Matlab Simulink is used to model a 2kVA
single-phase full-bridge VCVSI [4-6]. This software
package is designed for modelling, simulating and
analysing dynamic systems. It supports linear and non-
linear systems modelled in continuous time, sampled
time or a combination of both. Therefore it is well suited
to modelling and simulating inverters and controllers in
the analogue and digital domains. A system model
showing the physical components of the single-phase
VCVSI modeled using Matlab Simulink is shown in
Figure 1. This inverter uses a low-voltage DC bus
(24V
DC
), which is stepped up to 240V
AC
using a step-up
transformer (Tx). The transformer provides galvanic
isolation and is a simple solution for the stepping up of a
low-voltage DC bus. The DC bus in the model
comprises of the battery (Vbatt), lead wire and battery
resistance (Rbatt), and DC filter capacitor (Cdc). The
full-bridge uses MOSFET switching devices with the
full-bridge output filtered using a low-pass LC filter (L
f

and C
f
). The inductor filter resistance is represented as
R
Lf
with the LC filter-damping resistor being R
Cf
. The
load connected to the inverter (Z
L
) is considered
arbitrary (linear and/or non-linear). The PWM generator
provides the switching signals for the full-bridge with
the load voltage RMS value used to regulate the load
voltage. The RMS controller is a simple and standard
controller used for inverters only requiring load voltage
RMS regulation. The prototype single-phase 2kVA
inverter developed based on the system model in Figure
1 is shown in Figure 2 (a) with its housing shown in
Figure 2 (b). From Figure 2 (a) the DC input and filter
capacitors, MOSFETS, filter inductor and transformer
modeled in Figure 1 are shown. In Figure 2 (b), the user
interface, comprising of an LCD and buttons, status
LEDs, on/off switches and AC output can be clearly
seen.
This inverter in Figure 2 was designed for harsh
environments [7] and to be reliable, efficient and low-
cost. Modeling this inverter allowed for its design to be
verified and advanced controllers simulated before they
were implemented. The power of Matlab Simulink
provided a suitable development tool for this application.
M. C. Trigg C. V. Nayar
Department of Electrical Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering
Curtin University of Technology
GPO Box U1987
Curtin University of Technology
GPO Box U1987
Perth 6845, Australia Perth 6845, Australia
mtrigg@ieee.org c.v.nayar@curtin.edu.au

Figure 1. Physical components of single-phase
VCVSI with load voltage RMS control

Low-frequency
Transformer
Power Stage
DC Input
DC Filter
Capacitors
MOSFETS
Filter Inductor

AC Output
LED
Status
User
Interface
Aluminium
Housing
DC/AC
on/off
(a) (b)
Figure 2. Prototype 2kVA single-phase VCVSI
(a) inverter (b) housing
2. MATLAB SIMULINK SYSTEM MODELLING
Matlab Simulink comprises of a range of blocksets such
as communications, control, power system and fuzzy
logic etc. depending on application requirements. For
inverter development, the power system blockset
provides the required components such as a full-bridge,
batteries, resistors, inductors, capacitors etc. and many
more. Shown in Figure 3 (a) is the power system full-
bridge block which is at the heart of the inverter. It
comprises of the DC input (+ and -), PWM inputs
(pulses) for each of the four switches, and the full-bridge
output (A and B).
In Figure 3 (b) are the full-bridge block parameters,
which allow for the selection of key parameters such as
number of bridge arms, switch device selection, on
resistance etc. This window is common to most blocks to
enable them to be customised for the required
application. At the bottom of most block parameters
window is a pull-down menu, which allows key voltages
and currents to be easily measured for the selected
device. This data can be displayed and/or sent to the
Matlab workspace for further analysis.
Shown in Figure 4 (a) is a scope block with its inputs
taken from multimeter blocks. Multimeters allow for
measurement points in a system to be selected based on
a blocks measurements pull-down menu as shown in
Figure 3 (b). They also allow for measurements of a
system to be made without having to directly connect
wires to the measurement point; therefore simplifying
the layout. Also shown is a multiplexer, which allows for
multiple signals to be displayed on the same scope axis.
The limiter at the first scope input can be used to set the
maximum and minimum y-axis limits if only a set
amplitude of a signal needs to be displayed.
In Figure 4 (b) are signal measurements taken with the
scope in Figure 4 (a). The two signals multiplexed onto
the single axis can be seen on the second axis of the
scope. The scope parameters are shown in Figure 4 (c),
which allow for the number of axes, time range, format
etc. to be setup as well as an option to save the scope
data to the Matlab workspace, which can be later used in
custom plots or analysis. The advantage of sending data
to the workspace is that it allows for more flexibility
with plotting compared to the standard scope and
enables more readable plots to be created. The
disadvantage is that it requires the setting up of a Matlab
M-file, which requires programming using the C
programming language.
The inverter system modeled with Matlab Simulink was
achieved using the power system and standard simulink
blocksets. The system was analysed by sending the
required signal to scopes and the workspace, which
allowed for analysis and design of the inverter model.

3. MATLAB SIMULINK VCVSI
The Matlab Simulink model of the single-phase VCVSI
in Figure 1 is shown in Figure 5. This model, developed
using the Simulink power system blockset, comprises of
components such as power electronic devices (full-
bridge and rectifier) and elements such as inductors,
capacitors and resistors. The DC model used comprises
of the battery (V
batt
) and its respective resistance and
lead wire resistance (R
batt
) as well as the filter capacitor
(C
dc
) and a DC bus current measurement resistor (Idc
measure), which is of the order of micro-ohms as it is
only used for DC bus current measurement using a
multimeter block. The output from the full-bridge block
(A and B) comprises of the filter inductor and its
resistance (L
f
, R
Lf
) and filter capacitor with damping
resistor (C
f
, R
Cf
). Also included is the step-up
transformer (T
x
) and a non-linear load used for analysis.
The resistor Rmeasure is of the order of micro-ohms


(a) (b)
Figure 3. Matlab Simulink full-bridge
(a) full-bridge block (b) block parameters

Scope
Multimeter
(source selection)
Limiter
Multiplexer

(a)
(b)

(c)
Figure 4. Matlab Simulink signal measurement
(a) scope and inputs (b) scope signals (c) scope
parameters
and is only used for load current measurement the same
as Idc measure. Shown in Table 1 are the specifications
for the Matlab Simulink inverter model.
The PWM signals for each of the power electronic
devices in the full-bridge come from the PWM generator
block. This block allows for the switching frequency and
number of inverter legs to be selected with all PWM
signal multiplexed on a single bus into the full-bridge
block (pulses). The input to this block (signal(s)) is the
sinusoidal reference for the inverter. The reference for
this model is generated from a sinusoidal reference
generator in Simulink with load voltage RMS feedback
and open-loop (no feedback) control.
3.1. LOAD VOLTAGE RMS CONTROLLER
The most common controller used in many inverters is
load voltage RMS feedback control due to its low-cost
and ease of implementation. For many applications, such
as electronic loads, having a pure sinusoidal waveform is
not critical and therefore load voltage RMS feedback
control provides a cost effective and reliable solution for
an inverter design. It is also easily implemented on low-
cost 8-bit micro-controllers.
The normalized Matlab Simulink model of the analogue
equivalent load voltage RMS feedback controller for the
inverter in Figure 2 is shown in Figure 6. It comprises of
a sinusoidal reference (V
REF
), which provides the main
command signal (V
12h
) for the inverter PWM generator.
The amplitude of this reference is adjusted based on a
modulation index (m
a
) and amplified error signal (e
RMS
),
generated by comparing the ideal load voltage RMS
value with the actual. The error gain has been selected
based on a trial-and-error approach to achieve similar
results to the prototype inverter controller, which uses a
digital RMS controller. The limiter at the output of the
controller ensures that the command signal is limited (in
this case to 0.99 = 99%) to prevent DC at the output of
the inverter.
Shown in Figure 7 are waveform measurements (A to E)
taken for the load voltage RMS controller in Figure 6
with a 2kW linear load. It shows the sinusoidal reference
(V
REF
), modulation index (ma), normalized load voltage
RMS value (V
Load
RMS), load voltage (V
Load
) and the
inverter command signal (V
12h
). It can be seen from the
load voltage RMS value (plot C) and modulation index
(plot B) that as the RMS value decreases the
modulation index increases to compensate.
The model in Figure 6 and waveforms measured in
Figure 7 show the ease by which a standard inverter
controller can be developed with Matlab Simulink and
signal measurements taken. As the number of scopes in a
system increases, multimeter blocks (Figure 4 (a)) can be
used to eliminate the connecting wires from the system
to the scope making the model easier to manage and
Table 1. Specifications of the 2kVA inverter
Parameter Label Value Unit
Rated Power 2 kVA
Rated output frequency f
Load
50 Hz
Rated output voltage V
Load
240 V
Battery voltage V
batt
24 V
Battery and lead wire resistance R
batt
30 m
DC filter capacitance C
dc
88000 F
Inverter switching frequency f
sw
10 kHz
Inverter output frequency 2x f
sw
20 kHz
Filter inductor L
f
10 H
Filter inductor resistance R
Lf
1 m
Transformer turns ratio N 18 -
AC filter capacitor C
f
4 F
LC filter damping resistance R
Cf
10

Sinusoidal
Reference
Generator and
Controller
Rcf
Cf
Non-Linear Load
40 1000F
4mH
Vbatt

Figure 5. Matlab Simulink model of 2kVA Voltage Controlled Voltage Source Inverter with non-linear load
Modulation
Index Reference
(ma-ref)
Error Gain
VLoad RMS
VREF
Modulation
Index (ma)
erms k-erms
A
B
C D
Scope
E

Figure 6. Matlab Simulink model of a VCVSI
analogue load voltage RMS feedback controller
A
B
C
D
E
(VREF)

Figure 7. Load voltage RMS feedback controller
signal measurements for 2kW linear load
follow. Figure 6 also showed the use of a multiplexer,
which allows for multiple signal to be displayed on the
same axis as shown in Figure 7 for signals B and C.
4. SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Simulation results for the Matlab Simulink inverter
model developed in Figure 5 were compared with
experimental results for the 2kVA inverter in Figure 2.
Two types of control methods were used to compare the
Simulink model and prototype inverter: open-loop and
load voltage RMS feedback control. Open-loop control
allowed for the inverter model accuracy to be
investigated without any effects caused by closed loop
control. The load voltage RMS feedback control allowed
for the accuracy of the compete system (power system
and standard Simulink blocksets) to be investigated. For
each of these two control methods, linear and non-linear
loads were connected to the inverter to provide two cases
to compare the model accuracy.
The non-linear load (considered a worst-case scenario) is
shown connected to the inverter model in Figure 5 and
comprised of a full-bridge rectifier, choke (L
choke
), filter
capacitor (C
L
) and load resistor (R
L
). The choke, or
power factor correction (PFC) inductor was included as
this is commonly used in power supplies to reduce the
rate of change in load current (diload/dt), improving
inverter performance. The DC ripple of the load was
around 14%. The linear load comprised of only the load
resistor (R
L
) without the full-bridge rectifier, choke or
capacitor. Signals measured were load voltage (V
Load
),
battery current (i
batt
), filter inductor voltage (V
Lf
) and
current (i
Lf
). The load current can be found from the
filter inductor current as i
Load
=(i
Lf
/N)-i
Cf
. As i
Cf
is
generally much smaller than i
Lf
, i
Load
(i
Lf
/N). For the
experimental results only the DC bus voltage (V
dc
) and
battery current (i
batt
) could be measured, and not the DC
bus current (i
dc
) as it was not accessible.
4.1. LOAD VOLTAGE OPEN-LOOP CONTROL
Open-loop control was used to compare the simulation
and experimental results for the 2kVA inverter without
the effect of the load voltage RMS feedback controller.
For the Matlab Simulink model and 2kVA inverter, the
modulation index was set to obtain 240V at no-load. The
linear and non-linear loads were then connected to the
inverter for comparison.
4.1.1. LINEAR LOAD OPEN-LOOP CONTROL
Shown in Figure 8 (a) and (b) are experimental and
simulation results respectively of the VCVSI with open-
loop control and the 2kW linear load (R
L
=28.8). For
both results it can be seen that the load voltage has
reduced from 240V to around 199V (83%), resulting in a
reduced load power of around 1375W (P
Load

=V
Load
2
/R
L
=199
2
/28.8). This can also be confirmed by
equation (1) as given at the top left corner of Figure 8 (a)
and (b).

=
N
i
. V .i V P
Lf
Load Load Load Load

(1)
From the experimental results in Figure 8 (a) it can be
seen that there is some distortion in the load voltage
waveform at the zero crossing point. This is due to
hardware dead-time used to provide a small time delay
between the turning off of one switch and turning on of
the other switch in the same full-bridge leg.
This prevents the DC bus being shorted resulting in
current shoot-through. This dead-time was not
implemented in the Matlab Simulink inverter model and
therefore is not present in the simulation waveforms. It
can be seen in Figure 8 that all voltage and current
waveforms have a similar shape and RMS values.
4.1.2. NON-LINEAR LOAD OPEN-LOOP CONTROL
Shown in Figure 9 (a) and (b) are experimental and
simulation results respectively for the VCVSI with the
non-linear load. From Figure 9 it can be seen that the
load voltages from the experimental and simulation
results have reduced from 240V to 200V (83%) and that
the load voltage waveform is distorted. The distortion in
the filter inductor voltage (V
Lf
) can also be clearly seen
in both experimental and simulation results. From the
simulation results, the load voltage THD has increased
from 2.69% to 8.89% while the load current THD has
increased significantly from 2.69% to 60.4% due to the
non-linear load. The results in Figure 8 and Figure 9
show the accuracy of the Matlab Simulink inverter
model developed with the power system blockset for
both linear and non-linear analysis. They also confirm
the accuracy of the inverter model developed.
VLoad = 199VRMS
(49.82Hz)
iLf = 127ARMS
ibatt = 65.5ARMS
VLf
Dead-time
Distortion
PLoad = 1404W

(a)
VLoad = 201VRMS
iLf = 125ARMS ibatt = 69ARMS
iLoad = 6.95ARMS
VLoad THD = 2.69%
iLoad THD = 2.69%
PLoad = 1397W
(b)
Figure 8. Single-phase VCVSI with
open-loop control and 2kW linear load
(a) experimental (b) simulation
4.2. LOAD VOLTAGE RMS FEEDBACK CONTROL
As load voltage RMS feedback control is a standard
control method used for inverters, simulation and
experimental results were compared using this type of
controller with the linear and non-linear loads. These
results can then be compared with those obtained using
open-loop control to show the effect of the load voltage
RMS feedback control on inverter performance. While
the Matlab Simulink RMS controller in Figure 6 is an
analogue version of the digital RMS controller
implemented in the prototype 2kVA inverter in Figure 2,
it is shown to be an accurate model for both linear and
non-linear loads.
4.2.1. LINEAR LOAD RMS CONTROL
Shown in Figure 10 (a) and (b) are experimental and
simulation results respectively for the VCVSI with load
voltage RMS feedback control and a 2kW linear load
(R
L
=28.8). For both results it can be seen that the load
voltage RMS value has reduced from 240V to around
235V (98%) resulting in a reduced load power of around
1917W (P
Load
=V
Load
2
/R
L
=235
2
/28.8).
Comparing the results in Figure 8 and Figure 10 with the
linear load for open-loop and RMS control respectively,
it can be seen that the shape of the waveforms are almost
identical. The main differences are in the magnitudes of
the waveforms (due to open-loop and RMS control) and
the slight load voltage distortion caused by the RMS
controller. This distortion can also be seen in Figure 7,
which is due to the slow response of RMS control.
4.2.2. NON-LINEAR LOAD RMS CONTROL
Shown in Figure 11 (a) and (b) are experimental and
simulation results respectively for the VCVSI with RMS
feedback control and the non-linear load. For both
results it can be seen that the load voltage RMS value
has increased from 240V to around 245V (102%). This
is due to the distortion in the load voltage waveform
causing the rectified DC value for the RMS feedback
control to reduce and therefore for the modulation index
to increase. The set-point used to set the load voltage is
generally performed using a linear load and therefore the
regulation for a non-linear load can be expected to be
worse as is the case in Figure 11.
Comparing the results in Figure 9 with those in Figure 11
with the non-linear load, it can be seen that the shape of
all waveforms are almost identical with the only main
difference being their RMS values. These results show
that the RMS controller is only capable improving the
regulation of the load voltage but is incapable of
improving the shape of the waveform, especially when a
non-linear load is present
Comparing the experimental and simulation results for
open-loop and load voltage RMS feedback control with
the linear and non-linear loads, it can be seen that the
Matlab Simulink inverter model developed in Figure 5 is
an accurate model of the 2kVA prototype inverter
VLoad = 199VRMS
(49.98Hz)
iLf = 168ARMS
ibatt = 68.4ARMS
VLf
PLoad = 1.35kW
QLoad = 1.19Var
SLoad = 1.80kVA
PF = 0.75

(a)
V
Load
= 204V
RMS

i
Lf
= 149A
RMS i
batt
= 75A
RMS
i
Load
= 8.30A
RMS
VLoad THD = 8.89%
iLoad THD = 60.4%
(b)
Figure 9. Single-phase VCVSI with
open-loop control and non-linear load
(a) experimental (b) simulation

VLoad = 235VRMS
(50.15Hz)
iLf = 149ARMS
ibatt = 93.8ARMS
PLoad = 2.00kW
QLoad = 0VAr
SLoad = 2kVA
VLf
PF = 1

(a)
VLoad = 234VRMS
iLf = 145ARMS ibatt = 96ARMS
iLoad = 8.05ARMS
VLoad THD = 6.34%
iLoad THD = 6.34%
PLoad = 1884W
(b)
Figure 10. Single-phase VCVSI with
RMS feedback control and 2kW linear load
(a) experimental (b) simulation
presented in Figure 2. The development of this model
enables the prototype 2kVA inverter to be analysed and
optimized as well as providing a solid platform for the
development of more advanced controllers.
5. CONCLUSIONS
This paper presented a Matlab Simulink model of a
single-phase 2kVA Voltage Controlled Voltage Source
Inverter with load voltage RMS feedback control. The
inverter model was developed with the Matlab power
systems blockset while the load voltage RMS feedback
controller was developed with the standard Simulink
blockset.
Open-loop control was used to show the accuracy of the
model developed without the closed loop RMS
feedback. The RMS feedback was then used to show the
accuracy of the complete inverter system (inverter and
controller). Linear and non-linear loads were used for the
open-loop and RMS controllers to compare the accuracy
of the model for two distinct load conditions.
The inverter and RMS controller models developed with
Matlab Simulink was shown to provide accurate results
and provided valuable insight into inverter performance.
Matlab Simulink was shown to be a powerful tool for the
development of a single-phase VCVSI and load voltage
RMS feedback controller.
REFERENCES
[1] N. Mohan, T. M. Undeland, and W. P. Robbins,
Power Electronics - Converters, Applications,
and Design, 2nd ed: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
1995.
[2] "Matlab 6, Release 12.1." Natick,
Massachusetts: The MathWorks
(www.mathworks.com), 2006.
[3] "PSIM Version 7.0." Woburn, MA: Powersim
Inc. (www.powersimtech.com), 2006.
[4] M. Trigg, "Digital Sinusoidal PWM Generation
using a Low-cost Micro-controller Based
Single-Phase Inverter," presented at ETFA
2005, Catania, Italy, 2005.
[5] M. C. Trigg, H. Dehbonei, and C. V. Nayar,
"Digital Sinusoidal PWMs for a Micro-
controller based Single-Phase Inverter. Part 1:
Principles of digital sinusoidal PWM
generation," IJE Power electronics and
instrumentation hardware, 2005.
[6] M. C. Trigg, H. Dehbonei, and C. V. Nayar,
"Digital Sinusoidal PWMs for a Micro-
controller based Single-Phase Inverter. Part 2:
Performance assessment - experimental," IJE
Power electronics and instrumentation
hardware, 2005.
[7] H. Dehbonei, M. Trigg, and C. Nayar, "A
Novel Sinewave Inverter for Harsh
Environment," presented at AUPEC 2005,
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 2005.


V
Load
= 246V
RMS

(49.97Hz)
i
Lf
= 210A
RMS
i
batt
= 125A
RMS
PF = 0.75
Q = 1.96kVAr
P = 2.25kW
S = 3kVA
V
Lf


(a)

V
Load
= 245V
RMS

i
Lf
= 202A
RMS
i
batt
= 130A
RMS
(b)
Figure 11. Single-phase VCVSI with
RMS feedback control and non-linear load
(a) experimental (b) simulation