Using Simulation Tools in Power Electronics Courses — A Case Study

Power electronics is one of the biggest economic drivers for several decades. It is a key technology in numerous industrial applications like traction, automation, electric vehicles, renewable energies or smart grids. For this reason, it is an integral part of the curriculum of the study program electrical engineering. This paper presents a didactic method, which helps students to understand the basic operation of power electronic converters in a comprehensive way. For this purpose, undergraduates are encouraged and instructed to use digital simulation during the share of self-study-time. In particular, the suggested approach promotes an interdisciplinary learning of power electronics and control theory. The proposed concept is expected to support students in learning project oriented. The results are discussed by means of one case study.