Optimizing heat source distribution for transverse flux inductive heating devices for thin strips with genetic algorithms

Inductive heating is an appropriate method for heating thin strips. The advantages of this method are are high temperature gradients and good behavior in case of errors like interrupted strip transport. The main problem is the uniformity of the temperature distribution over the strip width. This temperature arises from eddy currents in the strip so that the aim is to optimize the eddy current distribution over the strip width. This paper describes a genetic algorithm and quality function which are able to find a suitable current distribution which reduces the overheating of the strip edges while maintaining an even center. It is possible to find ,for every strip width, a current distribution with these properties. There are no additional mechanical devices or adjustments needed