The "Total Standing Voltage" is referred to a device such as multilevel Inverter, but the "Maximum Blocking voltage" is a characteristic of a single switch which is given by the manufacturer and is constant. So, the "Total Blocked Voltage" is not a correct term. The total standing voltage is obtained by adding the blocking voltage of series switches in a topology.

To compare various topologies, especially in multilevel inverters, criteria has to be defined for fair comparison. There are some topologies that require higher blocking voltage for the switches and others with smaller voltages. Thence, the total required blocking voltages of a topology is defined as the summation of the required blocking voltages of individual switches in the topology. The best for topology is the lower blocking voltages without difference between the individual switches (V block of switches are equal).

Some authors also defines the sum of required blocking voltages divided by the number of obtained levels of the topology as a criteria to select the better topology.

Catherine, welcome!

can you refer to the paper containing these terms? It is a matter of definition of the blocking capabilities of the switches in the multilevel inverter.

The word sanding voltage is little bit confusing when speaking the blocking voltage capabilities of the switched. It is may be called withstanding voltage which means the voltage capability.

Best wishes

Farhad Yazdi thanks for your answer

I now understand the total standing voltage term based on your valuable answer

this paper " A New Cascaded Switched-Capacitor Multilevel Inverter Based on Improved Series-Parallel Conversion with Less Number of Components " deals with total standing voltage as the same term of total blocked voltage

Mokhtar Aly thanks for your answer

Abdelhalim abdelnaby Zekry

First of all thanks to your question

This paper " Optimal Design of a New Cascaded Multilevel Inverter Topology With Reduced Switch Count "works with total standing voltage as sum of max stress across each switch while the other paper " A Single-Phase Cascaded Multilevel Inverter Based on a New Basic Unit With Reduced Number of Power Switches" as the same way of first paper works with naming the stress as total (maximum) blocked voltage

Maybe i don't understand each term but i get confusion between the differences

You are welcome Cathrine E. S. Feloups .

I think some times the colleagues who handle these circuits may not have strong background to the terminology of the power devices. The power transistor acting as a switch has two states, the on conduction state and the off blocking state. This is the first time that i hear the standing voltage!!!. I know the expression of the transistor in the off states withstands a maximum voltage called the breakdown voltage. Here standing is meaning the maximum voltage capability. And so the two terms are the same. I would stick on the common terminology which is the maximum blocking voltage.

Best wishes

Abdelhalim abdelnaby Zekry thanks Prof for your valuable comments and your time

Dear Catrine E.S.Feloups!

I also think that in this case we are talking about a constant voltage supplied to the inverter itself, i.e. the voltage that is the inverter's supply voltage (conversion voltage) and the constant blocking voltage of the switching elements (the maximum voltage applied at the time of switching). The blocking voltage due to voltage spikes during the transient may slightly exceed the inverter supply voltage. Therefore, to protect the switching elements, it is necessary to take special measures or choose them with a large margin of blocking voltage.

In a word, I largely agree with the explanation of the distinguished professor Abdelhalim Zekry!

I think the total withstand voltage would be a better term; then confusion would not arise between total blocking voltage and total (with)standing voltage. Both are essentially equivalent terms.

I support the wording of the respected Ashraf Yahya .

I think that it will be more correct to use the term "allowable voltage" of switching (blocking) and allowable supply voltage. Naturally in a short time, i.e. during switching, the switching element can withstand more voltage than the supply voltage of the device.