Fröhlich model characterization of magnetic properties of the induction heating load

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the identification of the magnetic characteristics of the induction load by means of the B–H curve proposed by Fröhlich.

Design/methodology/approach

An electromagnetic description of the inductor system is performed to substitute the effects of the induction load, for a mathematical condition, the so-called impedance boundary condition (IBC).

Findings

A significant reduction in the computational cost of electromagnetic simulation has been achieved through the use of the IBC, resulting in a computation time approximately 400 times faster than time domain simulation. Moreover, an alternative method has been developed to experimentally identify the parameters that determine the magnetic behavior of the induction load. Finally, further research has been conducted to understand the relationship between the equivalent impedance of an induction load and the excitation current level.

Practical implications

This work is performed to achieve a better understanding of the fundamentals involved in the electromagnetic modeling of an induction heating system.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the dependence on the excitation level based on a first harmonic approximation and extends the IBC to nonlinear magnetic materials which allows the identification of the magnetic characteristics of the induction load.