Teaching Magnetic Component Design in Power Electronics Course using Project Based Learning Approach

This paper presents the results and gained experiences from the Project Based Learning (PBL) of magnetic component design within a Power Electronics Course. PBL was applied during the laboratory exercises through a design-project task based on a boost converter test board. The students were asked to calculate the main boost converter's circuit parameters' capacitor C and inductor L, and then additionally required to design and build-up the inductor L, in order to meet the project's goals. The whole PBL process relied on ideas from the CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate), where the students are encouraged to consider the whole system's process, in order to obtain hands-on experience. PBL is known to be a motivating and problem-centered teaching method that gives students the ability to transfer their acquired scientific knowledge into industrial practice. It has the potential to help students cope with demanding complexities in the field, and those problems they will face in their future careers.