Board 69: Project-based Teaching Approach of a Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Power Electronics

Radian G. Belu

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Conference: 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Tampa, Florida
Publication Date: June 15, 2019
Start Date: June 15, 2019
End Date: June 19, 2019
Conference Session: Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Poster Session
Tagged Division: Energy Conversion and Conservation
Page Count: 14
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--32407
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/32407
Download Count: 598

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Radian G. Belu Southern University and A&M College

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Dr. Radian Belu is Associate Professor within Electrical Engineering Department, Southern University, Baton, Rouge, USA. He is holding one PHD in power engineering and other one in physics. Before joining to Southern University Dr. Belu hold faculty, research and industry positions at universities and research institutes in Romania, Canada and United States. He also worked for several years in industry as project manager, senior engineer and consultant. He has taught and developed undergraduate and graduate courses in power electronics, power systems, renewable energy, smart grids, control, electric machines, instrumentation, radar and remote sensing, numerical methods, space and atmosphere physics, and applied physics. His research interests included power system stability, control and protection, renewable energy system analysis, assessment and design, smart microgrids, power electronics and electric machines for non-conventional energy conversion, remote sensing, wave and turbulence, numerical modeling, electromagnetic compatibility and engineering education. During his career Dr. Belu published ten book chapters, several papers in referred journals and in conference proceedings in his areas of the research interests. He has also been PI or Co-PI for various research projects United States and abroad in power systems analysis and protection, load and energy demand forecasting, renewable energy, microgrids, wave and turbulence, radar and remote sensing, instrumentation, atmosphere physics, electromagnetic compatibility, and engineering education.

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Abstract

Power electronics, a fast-developing technology within the engineering fields is multidisciplinary and complex subject in its nature. The design, modeling and analysis of power electronics circuits include circuit theory, electromagnetics, semiconductor devices, microprocessors, signal processing, control, computer simulation, heat transfer, electromagnetic compatibility and even artificial intelligence. The classical instruction approach is based on lectures and laboratories assisted by teachers. Teaching power electronics it is not an easy task, due to subject complexity and student motivation related to the subject difficulties. A natural and efficient way of teaching power electronics is the problem-oriented and project-based learning (PBL) approach. PBL, as a problem-centered teaching approach motivates students to learn actively, bringing the real professional world and requirements closer to the student, it is widely applied into engineering education. PBL relies on the paradigm of conceive, design, implement, and test, while the students are encouraged to consider the whole system, in order to obtain hands-on experience. PBL gives students the ability to transfer their acquired scientific knowledge into industrial practice. It has the great potential to help students cope with engineering field complexities, and those problems that they are facing into their future careers. For this reason, we consider the PBL to be a suitable method to obtain the desired results, improve the student learning and interests. The underlying methodology, task planning, project topics, planned assessment, and difficulties are presented and discussed. This paper presents the issues and challenges to develop and implement combined (undergraduate and graduate) course power electronics, as part of our new power and energy engineering minor. The rationale, ideas and experience of applying project-based learning on a course in power electronics are discussed. The paper also presents the course structure and content to implement and develop power electronics concepts, as well as the motivation for the inclusion of course projects with renewable energy topics.

Citation
Format

Belu, R. G. (2019, June), Board 69: Project-based Teaching Approach of a Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Power Electronics Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32407

TY - CPAPER
AB - Power electronics, a fast-developing technology within the engineering fields is multidisciplinary and complex subject in its nature. The design, modeling and analysis of power electronics circuits include circuit theory, electromagnetics, semiconductor devices, microprocessors, signal processing, control, computer simulation, heat transfer, electromagnetic compatibility and even artificial intelligence. The classical instruction approach is based on lectures and laboratories assisted by teachers. Teaching power electronics it is not an easy task, due to subject complexity and student motivation related to the subject difficulties. A natural and efficient way of teaching power electronics is the problem-oriented and project-based learning (PBL) approach. PBL, as a problem-centered teaching approach motivates students to learn actively, bringing the real professional world and requirements closer to the student, it is widely applied into engineering education. PBL relies on the paradigm of conceive, design, implement, and test, while the students are encouraged to consider the whole system, in order to obtain hands-on experience. PBL gives students the ability to transfer their acquired scientific knowledge into industrial practice. It has the great potential to help students cope with engineering field complexities, and those problems that they are facing into their future careers. For this reason, we consider the PBL to be a suitable method to obtain the desired results, improve the student learning and interests. The underlying methodology, task planning, project topics, planned assessment, and difficulties are presented and discussed. This paper presents the issues and challenges to develop and implement combined (undergraduate and graduate) course power electronics, as part of our new power and energy engineering minor. The rationale, ideas and experience of applying project-based learning on a course in power electronics are discussed. The paper also presents the course structure and content to implement and develop power electronics concepts, as well as the motivation for the inclusion of course projects with renewable energy topics.
AU - Radian G. Belu
CY - Tampa, Florida
DA - 2019/06/15
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Board 69: Project-based Teaching Approach of a Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Course in Power Electronics
UR - https://strategy.asee.org/32407
DO - 10.18260/1-2--32407
ER -