Cooperation between Theoretical and Practical Education through Power Electronics Circuits

Power electronics is a complex field of power, electronics, and control. For this reason, the content taught in lectures is extremely broad. In addition, because it deals with circuits that are actually used in the world, unlike other electrical subjects, it also requires a design and development perspective. Conventional education methods for power electronics have centered on lectures that explain the basic operation of various power conversion circuits and hands-on practice using circuit kits. However, even understanding the basic operation is insufficient to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to become a circuit designer. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a lecture for students to acquire a wide range of power electronics technologies, and a coordinated education of basic and applied technologies in which students actually design power conversion circuits. In the lectures, students learn not only the operation of basic power conversion circuits throughout the year, but also the basic design methods of power conversion circuits. In the design of power conversion circuits, students work on circuit fabrication through repeated trial and error based on the design methods introduced in the lectures. In this way, students can acquire not only the basic knowledge but also the knowledge and skills necessary for circuit design more than with conventional educational methods.