Asymmetrical and symmetrical embedded Z-source inverters

This study presents two types of embedded Z-source inverters with each type further divided into asymmetrical and symmetrical realisations. Being different from their traditional counterparts, the presented inverters have their dc sources inserted within their X-shaped impedance networks so as to achieve implicit source current or voltage filtering without requiring additional hardware, and therefore avoiding its accompanied control and resonant complications. Passive and active components used by the proposed inverters are also found to experience a lower-voltage/current stress at their dc front ends, which indirectly translates to a lowering of overall system cost. These noted advantages are indeed appropriate for applications like photovoltaic and fuel cell energy harnessing, and have already been confirmed in simulation and experimentally using a laboratory-implemented inverter prototype.