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Analysis of Switching Frequency Effects on THD and Switching Losses in a Filtered Single-Phase SPWM Inverter
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Power Electronics
Abstract
This paper investigates the effect of switching frequency on total harmonic distortion (THD) and switching losses in a single-phase sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) inverter with an LC output filter. Using MATLAB/Simulink, the inverter is modelled with a 400V DC input, H-bridge IGBTs and a damped LC filter designed to suppress high frequency harmonics. The switching frequency varied between 5KHz and 25KHz and output quality was evaluated through FFT analysis. The results show that THD remains extremely low (0.02-0.07%) across all tested frequencies due to the strong filtering effect of the LC, indicating that increasing switching frequency has no significant harmonic benefit. Conversely, switching losses varies linearly with frequency. The optimal operating frequency for the modelled system is 5KHz as it keeps the switching loss at the minimum while maintaining excellent waveform.
Keywords
Switching Frequency, Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Single-Phase Inverter, Switching Loss, Filter
References
[1] Tsai, C. T., & Weng, C. Y. (2025). Design and Implementation of a Single-phase Inverter with Technology of Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation. Sensors and Materials, 37(5), 2027-2035.
[2] Amah, G. G., & Mom, J. M. (2019). Comparative Analysis of Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of Sinusoidal Pulse-width Modulation Technique using Single-phase Seven-level Diode-Clamped Multi-level Inverter. American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER), 8(5), 189-195.
[3] Mohamed, A., & Salimin, S. (2020). THD performance of single phase five level inverter using proportional resonant and harmonic compensators current controller. International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive System (IJPEDS), 11(3), 1423-1429.
[4] Venkedesh, R., Anandha Kumar, R., & Renukadevi, G. (2022). Multilevel Inverter Design with Reduced Switches & THD Using Fuzzy Logic Controller. SSRG International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, 9(12), 1-21.
[5] Ramli, N. A., Jidin, A., Rasin, Z., & Sutikno, T. (2021). Reduction of total harmonic distortion of three-phase inverter using alternate switching strategy. International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems, 12(3), 1598-1608.
[6] Saha, T., Mitra, A., & Halder, B. (2020). "Design of LCL Filter for SPWM Inverter Based on Switching Frequency and THD Criterion." In Electronic Systems and Intelligent Computing, Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 686. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7031-5_42
[7] Ramli, N. A., Jidin, A., Rasin, Z., & Sutikno, T. (2021). Reduction of total harmonic distortion of three-phase inverter using alternate switching strategy. International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems, 12(3), 1598-1608.
[8] IEEE Recommended Practice and Requirements for Harmonic Control in Electric Power Systems, IEEE Standard 519-2014, 2014.
[9] Akuhwa, T. D., Tingir, T. J., & Akor, P. A. (2022). "Simulation of a Single-Phase Inverter with Unipolar Voltage Switching Using Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM) Technique." International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering (IJASRE), 8(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.31695/IJASRE.2022.8.1.1
[10] Arrow Electronics (2025). "Measuring IGBT Conduction Loss to Maximize Efficiency." Technical Article. https://www.arrow.com/en/research-and-events/articles/measuring-igbt-conduction-loss-to-maximize-efficiency
How to cite this paper
@article{1712131,
author = {Innocent Omoyibo, Godspower Idode, Wisdom Omoregbee, Ozah Osemudiamen, Helen Osunde},
title = {Analysis of Switching Frequency Effects on THD and Switching Losses in a Filtered Single-Phase SPWM Inverter},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2025},
volume = {9},
number = {5},
pages = {1334-1340},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1712131.pdf},
abstract = {This paper investigates the effect of switching frequency on total harmonic distortion (THD) and switching losses in a single-phase sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) inverter with an LC output filter. Using MATLAB/Simulink, the inverter is modelled with a 400V DC input, H-bridge IGBTs and a damped LC filter designed to suppress high frequency harmonics. The switching frequency varied between 5KHz and 25KHz and output quality was evaluated through FFT analysis. The results show that THD remains extremely low (0.02-0.07%) across all tested frequencies due to the strong filtering effect of the LC, indicating that increasing switching frequency has no significant harmonic benefit. Conversely, switching losses varies linearly with frequency. The optimal operating frequency for the modelled system is 5KHz as it keeps the switching loss at the minimum while maintaining excellent waveform.},
keywords = {Switching Frequency, Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Single-Phase Inverter, Switching Loss, Filter},
month = {November},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I5-1712131}
}