Computer-based modeling of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets induction heating

Abstract

Purpose -Nowadays, various software is available for simulating physical processes in induction heating. The software is often limited in its ability to simulate the billet movement, sometimes assuming uniform distribution of voltages on the inductor winding, uniformity of the physical properties of the billet, etc. The mathematical model of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets described in this paper takes into account the billet's movement, the billet phase heterogeneity and the nonuniformity of the supply voltage distribution in the inductor turns. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach -The research methodology is based on FEM analysis of the coupled problem, including the electromagnetic and thermal boundary problem with additional algebraic equations, using Comsol 3.5a software. Findings -The electromagnetic and temperature field in the billet and the voltage distribution on the winding turns have been calculated. The phase distribution in the billet has been predicted. Significant interaction of the nonuniformity of the supply voltage distribution, the billet's movement, the billet phase heterogeneity and side effect on the ends of the inductor have been shown. Practical implications -The results received can be used for designing the induction heating unit for moving cylindrical billets made from ferromagnetic material and improving their characteristics. Originality/value -Investigation of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets induction heating can be done by numerical solving the coupled problem including the electromagnetic and thermal boundary problem with additional algebraic equations for the supply voltage distribution.

A novel nonlinearity marginalization technique for effective solution of induction heating problems by cell method

“…In (29), through the modifications, the nonlinearity only exists in the equations of the external surface points while nonlinearity exists in all the point equations in the original mode (9). Taking the advantages of the CM in modifying the discrete equations, the nonlinearity of the coupled problem can be marginalized from the whole solution domain to the outer surface of the billet by the above modifications, and the degree of nonlinear of the numerical model can be eliminated.…”

“…Induction heating is widely utilized in various industrial applications and has the potential in manufacturing modern electrical and communication equipment with near-zeroindex materials, plasmonics, metasurfaces, graphene, and nanoparticles for its superior advantages of fast heating rate, precise heating location, fine reproducibility, and fast dynamics [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In order to obtain a rational design of induction heating apparatus without manufacturing numerous prototypes, the numerical modeling techniques have attracted extensive research attentions [8][9][10]. In the induction heating process, the electromagnetic and thermodynamic phenomena are strongly coupled, and thus it is of crucial importance to develop an accurate coupled electromagnetic-thermodynamic model to describe the phenomena faithfully.…”