How Does Induction Heating Work and What Factors Affect Its Efficiency?

[infoseeker39]

What is the efficiency of induction heating? What if you only had 8800 Watts available, or perhaps 220V, 40Amp... what size iron object could you heat, and to what temperature? Size will have to be qualified... how long? What shape & how thick? Depth of heat penetration. Then how long would it take to heat this object. Now what if this was an iron pipe, let's say 1/4inch... then we passed water through it? Sorry, but I have a lot to learn...

 

[Bob S]

I assume you are interested in a pipe geometry, and not a flat plate. There are RF stoves that heat pots and pans with copper bottoms. I suspect that an RF coil (20 - 100 kHz) in the form of a solenoid could heat a copper pipe. I would contact an induction heating company like:
http://www.mtixtl.com/sp-15adest-topinductionheater20-100khz7kw.aspx
They could give you information on heating efficiency.
Bob S

 

[astrokreng]

Heat transfer through induction is a process in which heat is generated in a conductive material through electromagnetic induction. This is achieved by placing the material in an alternating magnetic field, which causes eddy currents to flow within the material and generate heat. The efficiency of induction heating can vary depending on the specific setup and materials used, but it is generally considered to be a highly efficient method of heating.

If you only had 8800 Watts available, or a 220V, 40Amp power supply, the size of the iron object that could be heated and to what temperature would depend on several factors such as the shape, thickness, and depth of the material. The size of the heating coil and the frequency of the alternating magnetic field also play a role in determining the heating capacity. A larger object with a greater mass would require more power and time to reach a desired temperature compared to a smaller object.

For example, if we consider a flat iron plate with a thickness of 1 inch and a diameter of 10 inches, it would take approximately 4 minutes to heat it to 500 degrees Fahrenheit using 8800 Watts of power. However, if we increase the thickness to 2 inches, it would take around 8 minutes to reach the same temperature.

If we consider an iron pipe with a 1/4 inch diameter, the heat penetration would depend on the material's thermal conductivity and the frequency of the alternating magnetic field. The time required to heat the pipe would also depend on the flow rate of the water passing through it. The faster the flow rate, the less time it would take to heat the water. However, as the pipe's diameter is small, it may not be suitable for heating large quantities of water.

In summary, the efficiency of induction heating can vary depending on the setup and materials used. The size of the object that can be heated and the time required to heat it would depend on factors such as the shape, thickness, and depth of the material, as well as the power supply and frequency used. It is essential to consider all these factors when designing an induction heating system for a specific application.