Lifelong Learning in the Energy Transition: Implementation of Wireless Power Transfer

Research and education in the field of wireless power transfer (WPT) are diverse. Not only is the detailed electro-technical functioning of interest in education, but also a basic understanding for those without electro-technical knowledge is important, especially for broad acceptance of the WPT technique. To demystify the functioning, possibilities, and limitations of WPT, education is required from the low-level non-technical to detailed electro-technical level. A demonstration hardware that allows both non-technical users as well as skilled electro-technical engineers and students to experiment with WPT helps both in understanding and in acceptance of wireless technology. In this paper, a hardware trainer is described, applicable for basic experiments, as well as suitable for more detailed educational explanations of the electro-technical functioning. Distance and alignment of the transmitter and receiver coils can be adjusted for basic understanding. This adjustment can be made manually to get a look and feel of the WPT. The structure of the hardware trainer is detailed, and numerical examples are given, which have to be proven by performing the experiment. This paper discusses the functioning and application of WPT for various interest groups, both technical and non-technical. It provides guidelines to instructors for these groups of audiences.