3-D Eddy Current Analysis of Induction Heating Apparatus Considering Heat Emission, Heat Conduction, and Temperature Dependence of Magnetic Characteristics

The main issue of a billet heater using induction heating is to avoid billets that were not heated at a desired temperature. In order to improve the induction heating system, it is necessary to clarify the heating property of an object due to eddy current loss and to investigate the temperature distribution in an object by the magneto-thermal coupled analysis. In this paper, the eddy current and temperature distribution of a billet heater is analyzed considering the heat emission, heat conduction, and temperature dependence of magnetic characteristics of the billet. It is shown that the calculated values of temperature in the center and surface of a billet are in good agreement with measured values. The precise analysis is possible by considering the temperature dependence of magnetic characteristics, heat conductivity, etc. The detailed behavior of the heat generation in the billet is clarified. The skin depth is increased because the resistivity of the billet is increased and the permeability is decreased at high temperature. As a result, the flux in the billet is reduced, and then the power (eddy current loss) in the billet is decreased.