Design and Performance Evaluation of a Multi-Purpose HTS DC Induction Heating Machine for Industrial Applications

Abstract

In general, conventional induction heating system is designed only for a specific metal billet or object, because the heating system should be specialized to guarantee the best performance regarding heating quality and efficiency. It has been applied to large heating systems in metallic processing industries. A DC induction heating method using HTS magnets can be one of the better counterplans for higher efficiency and multi-purpose heating system. In this paper, we evaluated a performance of a 10 kW-class multi-purpose HTS DC induction heating machine without additional function or equipment, and performed efficiency analysis on various metals, including aluminum, copper, and iron billets. In addition, heating characteristics of other materials were simulated and analyzed through finite elements method (F.E.M.) models. The results demonstrate that the 2G HTS DC induction heating machine is applicable for all the ferrous and nonferrous metals and useful for large scale industrial applications.