Peng's paper focused on a novel multilevel inverter that converts direct current (DC) power or renewable energy, such as solar energy, to alternating current (AC) power. This enables line voltage to be controlled and stabilized to produce high quality power and allows power losses to be minimized. This inverter, which is designed for high-voltage applications, increases efficiency for high power systems from 98 percent, typical of conventional inverters, to 99.5 percent.
Peng's paper was chosen out of the 150 submitted this year for the symposium.
Last year, Peng and co-authors Jason Lai, Bob Young and George Ott won second prize at the Industrial Applications Society annual meeting for their paper on the soft-switching inverter, which converts (DC) power to (AC) power for low-voltage applications. The new inverter would increase the efficiency, driving range and reliability of electric cars.
Earlier this year, Peng received the Advanced Technology Award of the International Hall of Fame from the Inventors Clubs of America.
Before joining ORNL in 1994 as a University of Tennessee subcontractor, Peng worked for the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tokyo Electrical Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Peng received bachelor's and master's degrees in addition to a doctorate in power electronics and motor drives from Nagaoka University of Technology in Japan.
He and his family reside in Oak Ridge.
ORNL, one of DOE's multiprogram national research and development facilities, is managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp.