Power Inverter

Eso, Michael C.
Gomeseria, Roniele J.
Nual, Jerson G.
Pagilagan, Rashleigh Rhon V.

Technological Institute of the Philippines Manila

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Researchers expressed their highest gratitude to all generous persons who helped
them made possible the completion of the project.
To Engr. Cayetano Hiwatig for being the adviser of the researchers and for his
meaningful comments and valuable suggestion for the improvement of the project

To Engr. Mabanta for being patient and sharing his expertise to the researchers on
conducting the experiments.
To the section of EE51FB1 for being supportive and helping the researchers in every inch
of the way.
The most important of all, the Almighty God, His love and blessings gave strength and
guidance to the researchers as they finish the project.

The Researchers

DEDICATION

The researchers fondly dedicated this research work as appreciation of their deep
gratitude to the following:
To their parents Mr. Eso, Mr. Gomeseria, Mr. Nual, Mr. Pagilagan, for the moral support,
love, and care to them as well as the financial support that they are always ready to give in order
to make this project possible.

To our Almighty God for all the blessings that He gave to the researchers and for His
words that uplift our spirits during the lowest point in this project.

The Researchers

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages
Title Page
Approval Sheet
Acknowledgement
Dedication
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
CHAPTER I PROJECT AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
Objective of the Study

Statement of the Problem

Significance of the Study
Scope and Delimitations
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND RELATED LITERATURE
Related Literature
Related Studies
Conceptual Framework / Research Paradigm
Definition of Terms
CHAPTER III - METHODOLOGY
Methods of Research
Data Gathering
Research Setting
Respondents of the Study
Statistical Analysis
Questionnaire
Technical Approach
Block Diagram
Budgetary Outlay
CHAPTER IV PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION, AND ANALYSIS
OF DATA
CHAPTER V - FINDINGS OF THE STUDY, CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATION
Findings of the Study
Conclusion
Recommendation
APPENDIX 1 THE PROJECT
APPENDIX 2 THE CLIENT
APPENDIX 3 OTHER PICTURES
APPENDIX 4 - DATASHEETS
APPENDIX 5 CURRICULUMN VITAE
BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIST OF TABLES
Table

Title

2.1

Summary Table of Related Literature

3.1

Point Scale System

3.2

Budgetary Outlay

4.1

Statistical Treatment of Questionnaire

4.2

Maximum Speed

4.3

Average Speed

Pages

4.4

Minimum Soeed

LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE
3.1

TITLE
Structural Diagram

3.2

Simulation

3.3

Test Output Voltage

CHAPTER 1

PAGES

PROJECT AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction
Nowadays, generation of electric power comes in different ways. These
provide essential contributions to the world who is constantly in dire need of
power. A lot of methods of power generation are now being developed and
still on the process of improving to solve the energy crisis that the world
might experience in the coming years. Utilization of equipment and available
resources like car batteries could also be a way to solve these existing
problems. However, these methods can only get raw energy which are not
readily useable for the appliances. This is where significance of power
inverters take place.
Existing power inverters in the market has the capability to convert the
DC power into AC power which are useful for generating equipment and
household appliances such as computers, refrigerators, televisions and etc.
However, all of these are not efficient way in running these products since it
draws high current and usually requires battery utilization. As a result, power
inverters comes into large sizes that can consume large spaces especially in
households.
The tablet-size power inverter provides specifications to correct the
existing problems in using it in industry and personal uses. This inverter
exhibits major development in terms of its portability. This could be essential
characteristic that would give flexibility to the product thus, increasing its

significance to the society. Despite of miniaturization, efficiency of the power

inverter was still considered. Retaining the important characteristics of
power generation such as power factor and output power needed by the
appliances remained to be the focal point of the inverter. Furthermore, the
project will be beneficial to continuous development of existing inverters.
Statement of the Problem
The purpose of the project is to create a tablet-size power inverter that
can provide power to household appliances. It seeks to answer the following
questions:
1. How can the inverter be miniaturized?
2. Can it provide safety while generating power for household appliances?

3. Can the inverter provide an efficient power needed by household

appliances?
Objectives
The general objective of this project is to create a tablet-size power
inverter that can provide power to household appliances. In the focus of the
project are the following problems:

To provide a maximum load of 2kVA

To have a power density not less than 25W/in3

To create power inverter with a volume of not greater than 80in3

To have a voltage input of 380V DC

To provide an output of 220V AC

To have a frequency of 60Hz

To have a power factor ranging from 0.7-1

To have an efficiency not less than 95%

To have an input ripple current not greater than 20%

To have an input ripple voltage not greater than 3%

Scope and Delimitations

The project limits its function as an inverter that can provide a
sinusoidal output waveform. The project would only provide a 2kVA output
for household appliances. The voltage source of the project is 380V DC that
will be converted to 220V AC. The size of the project will have a power factor
ranging from 0.7 to 1 only and have a power density of at least 25W/in3.

Chapter 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
The global electrical demand now a days is steadily increases to meet
the needs of the people in using electricity in their everyday lives. The cost
of renewable energy technologies is on a falling trend and is expected to fall
further as demand and production increases. As we see the fast growing
availability of renewable energy around us, the problem is how this energy
can be harness to use in our household demand.
Electrical power transmission is classified into two methods: alternating
current and direct current. Alternating current can be found in AC motor
drives and long distance power transmission. The cyclic nature of alternating
current enables the use of transformers, which use magnetic principles to
alter voltage levels. By stepping up an AC voltage, a large amount of power
can be transferred over a long distance with less energy lost in heating up a
conductor due to a lower current requirement, since P=I2 R. As such, AC
power is more conventional than high voltage DC systems due to the ease of
stepping up voltage for transmission and stepping voltage down to
household outlet levels. DC voltage also has a place in powering devices.

Wherever there is a changing electrical current, a changing magnetic field

accompanies it. In a device-level electrical circuit, the magnetic variations
introduced by AC current manifest themselves as electrical noise. The effects
of this can range from audible line hum in an audio system to inaccurate
measurements in an electronic instrument. Thus, it is commonplace for a
device such as an MP3 player to employ DC voltages that have been rectified
and filtered from an AC wall outlet. An MP3 player also proves one other
benefit of DC power transmission: it can be done with a compact form factor.
Without a need for transformers or switching circuitry, battery-powered MP3
players, or any other portable device, can be made small enough to fit into a
pocket. However, there may come a time when household AC power is cut off
due to a power outage. The multitude of devices that are designed around
AC/DC power conversion (computers, for example) would then no longer be
able to operate. One solution to this problem is an auxiliary AC power
generator, like those powered by gasoline engines, or DC/AC power inverters
which use energy stored in batteries (a DC source) and emulate a wall outlet
AC output through voltage boosting and switching to create a changing
voltage with the proper amplitude across a load. In practice, DC/AC
conversion is done with topologies of varying precision. It can be as simple
as applying voltages of equal amplitude in opposite directions across a load
to generate a square wave. This method achieves the AC voltage requisite of
a changing voltage across a load, but this rough approximation has
consequences discussed later in this paper. 11 Figure 1:Square, Modified

Sine, and Sine Waves Comparison2 A more precise method of DC/AC

conversion is the modified sine wave, which introduces a dead time in a
normal square wave output so that higher peak voltages can be used to
produce the same average voltage as a sinusoidal wall-outlet output. This
method produces fewer harmonics than square wave generation, but it still is
not quite the same as the AC power that comes from an AC outlet. The
harmonics that are still present in a modified sine wave make modified sinewave inverters unsuitable for use while electrical noise is a concern, such as
in medical devices which monitor the vital signs of a human. Pure sine wave
DC/AC conversion will introduce the least amount of harmonics into an
electrical device, but are also the most expensive method. Since the AC sine
wave must come from a DC source, switching must still take place. However,
switching takes place with logic so that the energy delivered to a load
approaches that of a pure sine wave. This means that extra components and
design considerations are involved in the control circuitry of a pure sine wave
inverter, driving up cost.
The switched-capacitor (SC) power converter has received more and
more attention because it has only semiconductor switches and capacitors.
Thus, this kind of SC converters is one of the good solutions for low-power
DC-DC/DC-AC conversion. Unlike the traditional converter, the SC converter
needs no magnetic element, so they always have the small volume and light
weight. The SC converter is usually designed for an output higher than
supply voltage or a reverse-polarity voltage. This function fits many

applications, e.g. drivers of electromagnetic luminescent (EL) lamp, white

light emitting diode (WLED), op-amp, and LCD drivers. Up to now, the various
SC types have been suggested for power conversion.
In 1990, the first SC step-down converters were proposed by Japan
researchers, and their idea is to switch MOSFETS cyclically according to 4
periods of capacitors charging/discharging for step-down conversion. In
1993, Cheong et al. suggested a modified SC converter with two symmetrical
SC cells working in the two periods. In 1995, Chung and Ioinovici suggested a
current-mode SC for improving current waveforms. In 1998, Mak and Ioinovici
suggested an SC inverter with high power densit. In 2004, Chang proposed
design and analysis of power-CMOS-gate-based SC boost DC-AC inverter. The
advantage of this SC inverter is to reduce the electromagnetic interference
(EMI)

problem.

In

2007,

Chang

proposed

CPLD-based

closed-loop

implementation of SC step-down DC-DC converter for multiple output

choices.
In 2010, Hinago and Koizumi proposed a single-phase multilevel
inverter using switched series/parallel DC voltage sources based on multiple
independent voltage sources in order to reach the higher number of levels so
as to reduce the THD value. In 2011, Chang proposed an integrated SC stepup/down DC-DC/DC-AC converter/inverter. In this paper, by using the 2-stage
4-phase SC boost and SPFM control, the boost DC-AC inverter is proposed not
only to enhance full-wave output regulation via SPFM technique, but also to

improve the THD value and provide the maximum gain proportional to the
number of pumping capacitors.

Conceptual Framework

Step Down
Direct
Current

Invert Direct
Current

MOSFET
switching
Invert Direct
Current

Alternating
Current

Bridge
Converter
PWM, Digital
Signal
Processing

Efficiency
Maintenance

Temperature
Maintenance

Heat Sink
utilization

The basic function of the inverter is converting the DC input to AC

output. The procedure to attain this function is through inversion of DC to AC

peak amplitude. DC can be stepped down through DC-DC converter. The

MOSFETs on and off using pulse width modulation will make the current
alternating delivered from the microcontroller through a gate driver.
Temperature maintenance would be significant in achieving high efficiency.

Chapter 3
Research Design and Methodology
In this chapter, the different methods to quantify the needed data for
the experiments are discussed. The different designs for the prototype are
also presented to conduct several trials and achieve different results but in
line with the objectives of the study.
The approach used in this study includes Technical approach to focus
on both gathering data and testing procedures.
Types of Research

The type of research that will be used in this study are basic research,
applied

research and quantitative research.

Basic

research

provided

knowledge enhancement for the researchers, which is needed for the further
study to be conducted. This type of research laid down the foundation for the
applied research. Since applied research is considered as problem solving
research, it will be a help to the researchers to meet the different
specifications of the project. Lastly, the quantitative research is based on
numeric figures or numbers. By quantitative research, it will measure the
quantity or values and compares it with the past records and tries to project
for future period. Also, experiments, testing procedures and calculations are
most needed in this study. These show the attainment of the specifications
and objectives of the study.
Experimental Design
1. Study the structure of the inverter
2. Identify the functions of each component
3. Create an inverter
4. Apply microelectronics to miniaturize the inverter
5. Create again the mini inverter
6. Run some test to check if specifications are attained
Research Setting

The research is conducted in a work place which can provide the

different components needed for the creation of prototype. Since in running
test procedures can cause failure or damage to component, it is necessary to
work on a work place where there is an easy access to these components.
Moreover, protective devices such as fuses are included in the circuitry of the
design.
Budgetary Outlay
Item

Quantity

Cost

Inductor

1 pc

Php 1,500.00

Power MOSFET 47N60C3

4 pcs

Php 120.00

6A diode

4 pc

Php 300.00

Capacitor

1 sheet

Php 350.00

Fuse

10pcs

Php 150.00

PWM Microcontroller

1 kilo

Php 20.00

1 pc

Php 495.00

2 pc

Php 136.00

Clamp

3 pc

Php 60.00

Electronic Parts

1 set

Php 160.00

Wires

5m

Php 60.00

Aquarium

1 pc

Php 750.00

Electrica006C Tape

1 pc

Php 20.00

Mighty Bond

1 pc

Php 75.00

Light Receptacle

1 pc

Php 25.00

12V Rechargeable Lead Acid

Battery
Voltage Regulator (LM7805 &
LM7812)1

PVC 1

1 tube

Php 190.00

90 Angle Connector

2 pc

Php 70.00

Aluminum

1 sheet

Php 120.00

Total Cost

Php 4601.00

Data Gathering Procedure and Instrument Used

The set-up for the instruments would be established first before
conducting the actual gathering of the data. Figure 3.1 and figure 3.2
illustrates the two set-ups of the project to conduct the actual gathering of
the data.

Figure 3.1: 240V Split Phase Configuration

Figure 3.2: 240V to Ground Configuration

The data will vary according to the load. The design will consider the
power factor ranging from 0.7 to 1 leading or lagging. The testing procedures
will only be focused on the load side of the configuration, load bank. Industry
softwares like Multisim, Matlab and PSpice. These softwares will be
responsible for determining the following parameters to be considered in the
design:
1. Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise
2. Input Ripple Current and Voltage
Other parameters will be measured through DMM and multitester.
These include the following: output voltage, frequency output. The efficiency
of the device will be determined by taking the measurement at 6 different
load levels as shown in the table 3.1.
Table 3.1: Weighting Factors for CEC Efficiency Calculation

CHAPTER IV
PRESENTATION, INTERPRATATION, AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
This chapter shows the interpretation and analysis of data obtained from the several trials
conducted by the researchers. The data are analyzed and tabulated to interpret the results from
each designs.
CALCULATED

MEASURED

ILOAD (A)

Ripple Voltage
(V)

0.3231 A

10.1270 V

0.3231 A

10 V

1.2541 %

0.3334 A

10.4499 V

0.3334 A

10 V

4.3053 %

0.3236 A

10.1427 V

0.3236 A

10 V

1.4069 %

0.3335 A

10.4530 V

0.3335 A

10 V

4.3337 %

0.3233 A

10.1331 V

0.3233 A

10 V

1.3135 %

0.3234 A

10.1365 V

0.3234 A

10 V

1.3466 %

0.3299 A

10.3402 V

0.3299 A

10 V

3.2900 %

0.3287 A

10.3026 V

0.3287 A

10 V

2.9371 %

0.3298 A

10.3370 V

0.3298 A

10 V

3.2601 %

10

0.3334 A

10.4499 V

0.3334 A

10 V

11

0.3731 A

11.6042 V

0.3731 A

10 V

12

0.3256 A

10.2054 V

0.3256 A

10 V

4.3053 %
13.8243
%
2.0127 %

13

0.3540 A

11.0956 V

0.3540 A

10 V

9.8742 %

14

0.3371 A

10.5659 V

0.3371 A

10 V

5.3559 %

15

0.3256 A

10.2054 V

0.3256 A

10 V

Trial

Table 4.1 Ripple Voltage

ILOAD (A)

Ripple Voltage
(V)

%
DIFFEREN
CE

CALCULATED

Trial

Dc
Voltage (

Ripple
Voltage (

V r (rms) )

10.1270 V

10.4499 V

10.1427 V

10.4530 V

10.1331 V

10.1365 V

10.3402 V

10.3026 V

10.3370 V

10

10.4499 V

11

11.6042 V

12

10.2054 V

13

11.0956 V

14

10.5659 V

15

10.2054 V

dc
V )

381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V
381.837
7V

%
DIFFEREN
CE

MEASURED
Ripple
Factor %

Ripple Voltage
(

2.6521 %
2.7367 %
2.6563 %
2.7376 %
2.6538 %
2.6547 %
2.7080 %
2.6982 %
2.7072 %
2.7367 %
3.0390 %
2.6727 %
2.9058 %
2.7671 %
2.6727 %

V r (rms) )

Ripple
Voltage (V)

10 V

380 V

10 V

381 V

10 V

379 V

10 V

379 V

10 V

380 V

10 V

379 V

10 V

379 V

10 V

380 V

10 V

380V

10 V

380 V

10 V

382 V

10 V

380 V

10 V

382 V

10 V

379 V

10 V

378 V

Ripple
Factor
%

2.6316
%
2.6247
%
2.6385
%
2.6385
%
2.6316
%
2.6385
%
2.6385
%
2.6316
%
2.6316
%
2.6316
%
2.6178
%
2.6316
%
2.6178
%
2.6385
%
2.7455
%

Table 4.2 Ripple Voltage Factor

CALCULATED

MEASURED

%
DIFFEREN
CE

0.7790 %
4.2711 %
0.6367 %
3.7559 %
0.8436 %
0.6140 %
2.6341 %
2.5308 %
2.8738 %
2.8738 %
16.0898
%
1.5618 %
11.0016
%
4.8740 %
2.6516 %

Trial

Ripple Voltage
(V)

ILOAD (A)

ILOAD (A)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Table 4.2 Ripple Current

V Ripple (rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3231 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.1270 V

V Ripple(rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3334 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.4499 V

V Ripple (rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3236 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.1427 V

V Ripple(rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3335 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.4530 V

V Ripple (rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3233 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.1331 V

Ripple Voltage
(V)

V Ripple(rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3234 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.1365 V

V Ripple (rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3299 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.3402 V

V Ripple(rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3287 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.3026 V

V Ripple (rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3298 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.3370 V

V Ripple(rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3334 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.4499 V

V Ripple (rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3731 A
2 260188 uF

= 11.6042 V

V Ripple(rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3256 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.2054 V

V Ripple (rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3540 A
2 260188 uF

= 11.0956 V

V Ripple(rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3371 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.5659 V

V Ripple (rms)=

I
2 2f C

0.3256 A
2 260188 uF

= 10.2054 V

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

V r(rms)
V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.1270 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.6521 %

V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.4499 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.7367 %

V r(rms)
V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.1427 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.6563 %

V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.4530 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.7376 %

V r(rms)
V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.1331V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.6538 %

V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.1365 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.6547 %

V r(rms)
V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.3402V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.7080 %

V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.3026 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.6982 %

V r(rms)
V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.3370 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.7072 %

x 100 % =

10.4499 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.7367 %

V r(rms)

V r(rms)

V r(rms)

V r(rms)

V r(rms)
V (dc)

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

Ripple Factor % =

V r(rms)
V (dc)

x 100 % =

11.6042 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 3.0390 %

V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.2054 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.6727 %

V r(rms)
V (dc)

x 100 % =

11.0956 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.9058 %

V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.5659 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.7671 %

V r(rms)
V (dc)

x 100 % =

10.2054 V
381.8377 V

x 100 % = 2.6727 %

V r(rms)

V r(rms)

CHAPTER V
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter includes the summary and interpretation of the data gathered from the
experiment. The recommendations for further improvement of the study are also discussed. The
different suggested solutions to avoid the recurring problems during testing procedures are also
explained.
Findings of the Study
During the conduct of testing procedures, multiple problems arose. Several trials are
made and during each of these trials, different problems occurred. In the first design, short circuit
happened in the AC output current feedback input of the PWM microcontroller. The problem
occurred largely because of the timing in the switching of the microcontroller and the voltage
input DC of the circuit. During the second trial, the first voltage induced in the circuit is the
380V DC input and then followed by the 16V AC after stabilizing the first input voltage. In just
split seconds after putting the 16V AC, the protective devices included in the circuit suddenly
tripped as well as the VARIAC. Short circuit in the input side happened that caused tremendous
amount of current that tripped all the adjacent fuses. Timing of the switching of the drivers
caused the problem and the gradual increase of the DC voltage input as time varies. Another

possible cause is the grounded voltage input that can put up noises that would eventually trigger
the switching process of the pulse-width modulator. The last design tried to resolve the problems
regarding the grounded voltage input. Through the use of an isolation transformer, it removed the
ground noise of the 16 V VARICAC to be supplied in inverter. Setting the VARIAC in 240 V
AC and tapping it in the step down transformer, output voltage get from the 24 V AC
output, adjusting the VARIAC to get the value of 16 V AC. As supplied in the inverter
itself, short circuit happens still in the supply from 380 V DC. Problem of the fault in the
inverter still unknown, depending on the use of higher voltage input of 380 V dc, the
discussed input in the inverter itself was based on the input voltage indicated in the Google
Little Box Challenge, the proponents of the input voltage was to be supplied in their
laboratory, given the available resource the only option of the researcher was the available
VARIAC to be full in the laboratory equipment in the school.

Conclusion
Therefore conclude that the inverter of this project was not possible given the
resource have in the school to supply the inverter of the needed 380 V Dc and 16 V Dc. Due
to the fact that the grounded noise was present in this VARIAC that affects the switching
timing of the driver of the inverter. Affected by that noise the ability of the inverter to
switch accordingly in it operation, that would lead in fault as 380 V Dc and 16 V AC was
present in the inverter. As the moment that the 16 V AC was supplied in the inverter, the
two gate of the H bridge of the inverter, open that cause the fault in the inverter the reason
the fault was present or the fuse in the 380 V dc was open. The reason only the could lead to

its explanation as the noise in the ground knowingly that the VARIAC was externally
supplied the inverter, also with the use of the isolating transformer it didnt answer the
problem. Another conclusion that the researcher came up that cause this project to not
feasible in our case was the supply of 380 V DC, the supply must comform with the pure
DC supply, given that the use 380 V dc in the inverter was came from the full wave rectified
voltage comes in the VARIAC.