How Induction Heating Works

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What is Induction Heating?

Induction heating is a highly efficient and fast method that uses a magnetic field to heat conductive materials, such as metals and semiconductors, without contact. This method has become increasingly popular for industrial, medical, and domestic applications due to its many advantages over traditional heating techniques, such as resistance, flame, and ovens/furnaces. Induction heating is beneficial for highly precise or repetitive operations, where consistent heating and temperature control are critical for the quality and repeatability of the end product.

Basics of Induction Heating

In induction heating, an alternating current (AC) source is used to supply current to an induction heating coil. As a result, the coil generates an alternating magnetic field. When an object is placed in this field, two heating effects occur:

• Hysteresis losses &#; these occur only in magnetic materials such as iron, nickel, cobalt, etc., due to the friction between the molecules when the material is being continuously magnetized in different directions. Higher magnetic field oscillation frequency results in faster particle movement, which causes more friction and, thus more heat.
• Eddy-current losses &#; these occur as a Joule heating effect in any conductive material because of the electric currents induced by the fluctuating magnetic field.

Both effects result in the heating of the treated object, but the second one is most commonly the main heat source in IH processes. Moreover, hysteresis is not observed in non-magnetic materials, and magnetic materials lose their magnetic specificities if heated above a specific temperature (the so-called Curie point).

Eddy currents also depend on the magnetic field frequency due to the skin effect &#; at high frequencies, the currents flow close to the conductor surface. This specificity is used to control the penetration depth of the induction heating process. As a result, either the whole object or only a specific part of it (only the surface, for example) can be heated. Thus, induction heating can be used for different applications &#; from metal melting to brazing and surface hardening.

Skin effect is also observed inside the induction coil conductor. Therefore, pipes can be used instead of solid wires. When the current flows through the inductor, similar resistive losses are observed due to the Joule effect. In order to prevent the coil from melting and damage, water cooling is often applied.

Advantages of Induction Heating

Compared to some of the classic heating techniques (resistance heating, flame heating, furnaces, etc.), induction heating has the following advantages:

• Reduced time &#; via induction heating, the target is heated directly, resulting in a reduction of both heating time and wasted heat. This method provides high power density and low or no thermal inertia.
• High efficiency &#; efficiency values higher than 90% are obtained due to the proper design of the power converter and the coil. In addition, high temperatures can be reached quickly and easily as the ambient heat loss is significantly reduced.
• Improved control &#; precise regulation of the heating power can be achieved via appropriate coil design and control of the power converter. As a result, additional features such as local heating, pre-heating, predefined temperature profiles may be implemented.
• Industrial automation option &#; induction heating allows improvement of both the productivity and the quality of the processes. Quality is additionally guaranteed as the heating is contactless (no interference by the heating tool).
• Safety and cleanliness &#; there is no thermal or air pollution as the target is heated directly and no fuel substances are used.

Innovations and Future Development

Although induction heating systems have already reached maturity as a technology, the development of modern technologies continuously provides options for new research trends and industrial interest. In the coming years, the following topics are expected to be of significant interest:

• Efficiency improvement &#; induction heating systems with even higher efficiency are expected with the improvement of semiconductor technology. Moreover, special coil shapes and designs are provide increased efficiency. The aim of these efforts is to improve not only the performance but also the reliability of the induction heating systems.
• Induction heaters with multiple coils &#; better heat distribution, higher performance and flexibility can be achieved using several simultaneously-operating coils. These systems represent a major technological breakthrough and are more and more commonly implemented not only in industrial but also in domestic applications. Efforts should be made to optimize multiple-output power converter designs and advanced control algorithms. Another issue to be considered is the coupling effect between the individual coils.
• Advanced control &#; robust control algorithms are required to provide proper power converter operation for different induction heating loads and operating points. The control of multi-coil systems is another challenge. Improved performance and optimization of the transient processes is expected by the implementation of real-time identification control units with adaptive algorithms.
• Special applications &#;the range of induction heating applications is expected to increase even more with increased technological development. Heating of low-resistivity materials, as well as heating of biological tissues for medical purposes, are topics of particular interest. There are still other applications that need further research to optimize the process parameters.

History of Induction Heating

Induction heating was first discovered by Michael Faraday as he studied the induction of currents in wires by a magnet. The fundamental principles of induction heating were later established and developed by James C. Maxwell in his unified theory of electromagnetism. James P. Joule was the first to describe the heating effect of a current flowing through a conductive material.

In , Sebastian Z. de Ferranti proposed induction heating for metal melting and filed the first patent on the industrial applications of induction heating. The first fully-functional induction furnace was presented in by F. A. Kjellin, and the first high-frequency furnace application of induction heating was implemented by Edwin F. Northrup in .

During the Second World War and afterward, the use of induction heating technology was boosted by the aircraft and automotive industries. Induction heating was not only used for metal melting but also for advanced material treatment, which significantly increased the range of induction heating applications.

The development of solid-state generators using new power semiconductor technologies provided the potential for IH beyond the industrial environment. Since the late s, different domestic applications have appeared. In recent years, a particular interest in induction heating for medical treatments has emerged, as this method provides precise and targeted local heating.

Today, induction heating technology provides highly efficient and reliable systems for a wide variety of applications.

UltraFlex Power offers a free induction heating calculator to help you estimate your heating process parameters quickly.

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References

• Lucia, O., P. Maussion, E. J. Dede, J. Burdio, Induction Heating Technology and Its Applications: Past Developments, Current Technology, and Future Challenges, () IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, vol. 61 ( 5), pp. -.

• Tudbury, C. A., Basics of Induction Heating, vol. 1, J. F. Rider, May , New York, US.

• Magnet, Wikipedia article

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnet#Magnetic_metallic_elements

• Joule heating, Wikipedia article

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule_heating

• Curie temperature, Wikipedia article

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curie_temperature

Induction heating is commonly used in medical manufacturing for a variety of applications. This article will review some of the most typical applications for induction in medical manufacturing.

Image Credit: Ambrell Induction Heating Solutions

Annealing

Metal softening and enhanced ductility are achieved through annealing. Induction heating emerges as a remarkably efficient method for metal annealing, ensuring swift and precise execution. In the realm of medical device manufacturing, this guarantees accurate annealing, preventing stress-induced failures.

Brazing

Brazing is a joining process that uses a molten filler metal to join two pieces of metal together. This happens to be one of the most popular induction applications. Induction heating is a highly effective way to braze metal, as it quickly heats the filler metal to its melting point. A strong and durable brazed joint is commonly achieved with induction heating.

Soldering

Soldering is a joining process that uses a molten solder to join two pieces of metal together but at a lower temperature than brazing. Induction is a very effective way to solder metal, as it can quickly heat the solder to its melting point. The end result is a strong and durable solder joint.

Hardening

Hardening, as the name implies, increases the strength and hardness of metal. Induction heating is a highly effective way to harden metal, as it can heat the metal rapidly to the target temperature, after which point the metal is quenched to harden it. This results in a strong metal for end products that require it.

Heat Treating

This term encompasses a number of heat treatment processes that can be used to alter the properties of metal. Induction heating is a common way to heat treat metal, as it can quickly and accurately heat the metal to the desired temperature.

Aside from the previously mentioned applications, induction heating holds significance in various aspects of medical manufacturing, which are outlined below.

Cleaning

Induction heating can be used to clean metal parts by heating them to a target temperature and then quenching them to remove the contaminants from the metal, leaving it clean and free of oxidation.

Forming

Induction can also be used to form metal parts. By subjecting them to elevated temperatures and subsequently shaping them, this technique is commonly employed to craft precisely shaped medical products.

Testing

Induction heating is also a valuable way to assess the attributes of metal components. By heating them to specific temperatures and gauging their properties, it offers a crucial means to ensure medical devices adhere to stipulated quality standards.

In summary, induction heating's versatility and efficacy extend to a wide array of applications within medical manufacturing. Its capacity to heat metal cleanly, accurately, and efficiently renders it suitable for various functions, spanning from annealing and brazing to cleansing and shaping.

As such, this technique is a top choice for medical device manufacturers, given the paramount importance of quality and reproducibility within the medical sector.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Ambrell Induction Heating Solutions.

For more information on this source, please visit Ambrell Induction Heating Solutions.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Full Bridge Electromagnetic Induction Heater.