A Graduate Magnetic Design Course in a Power Electronics-Oriented Curriculum

Contribution: This article proposes a comprehensive graduate course on magnetic design that addresses existing gaps in current power electronics (PEs) education, provides theoretical foundations and hands-on skills, and matches syllabi coverage with current societal needs for electronic energy conversion. Background: A growing worldwide interest in electronic energy conversion in recent years has led to a remarkable development of the PEs knowledge field. Currently, PEs are at the heart of popular applications, such as wireless energy transference for electrical vehicles or energy conversion associated with renewable energies. Environmental and economic factors contribute to this trend. Magnetic elements are an inherent part of PEs converters, and some experts have expressed the need for specific magnetic design courses, to supplement PEs curricula. Intended Outcomes: A comprehensive approach to magnetic design education, mainly focused on filling identified gaps in PEs curricula at the graduate level. Application Design: The design of the proposed course includes lectures, laboratory sessions, and a wireless inductive power transfer (IPT) project as a representative application of electronic energy conversion. Topics include a review of electromagnetism principles, magnetic materials, loss mechanisms, and the design of inductors, transformers, and IPT systems. Societal needs (such as those demanded by the PEs industry, the research sphere, or academia) are addressed through a focus on topic selection, acquisition of specific skills, and developing representative applications pertaining to the electronic energy conversion field. Findings: A learning outcomes assessment proves the validity of the magnetic design course, specifically designed for PEs education. The assessment of the effectiveness of this approach reveals that enhanced skills in magnetic design are acquired in comparison with general PEs courses.