Fang Peng

Biography

Fang Zheng Peng’s pioneering research on multilevel inverters for static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) applications has provided essential power electronics tools for improving power flow capability and dynamic stability of transmission and distribution networks. He began applying his innovative cascaded multilevel inverters (CMIs) to flexible ac transmission systems during the 1990s. STATCOMs based on his patented delta-connected CMIs and transformerless unified power flow controllers enabled transformerless power electronics components to be implemented by inverters without using transformers to reach utility-scale voltage levels and power ratings. This avoids the cost, power loss, bulkiness, and failure issues encountered with traditional multipulse inverters. Most STATCOMS installations in use worldwide today incorporate Peng’s patented innovations, which play a role in facilitating power grid interconnection to renewable energy sources.

An IEEE Fellow, Peng is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering with the Center for Advanced Power Systems at Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.