Nested multilevel configurations

This paper investigates multilevel topologies based on the concept of nested arrangement. Such topologies are called nested multilevel converters since the central point of the legs are connected at the same point, with the external leg involving the internal one. The main contribution of this paper is to furnish a formal presentation of the nested multi-level configuration, including its generalization. This configuration presents advantages when compared to the equivalent NPC topology in terms of reduced number of diodes and consequently higher efficiency. The studied configurations can be considered as an interesting option for applications that demand a number of levels higher than or equal to four. Simulated and experimental results are presented to validate the theoretical expectations.