Modelling and Simulation of Induction Heating

This paper deals with the simulation of induction heating of conducting workpieces with a complex shape and topology. We assume that its conductivity is high, which, owing to the skin effect bars the fields from penetrating deep into the conductors. This justifies the use of a simple magnetostatic model that describes the magnetic field outside the workpiece and the inductor. Field concentrating plates can also be taken into account. After possible holes in the conductors have been patched with cutting surfaces, a scalar magnetic potential can be employed. The actual computation relies on a boundary integral equation of the second kind, discretized by means of piecewise constant boundary elements. Thus we get an approximation of the surface currents. Then we use the skin effect formula to determine the rate of heat generation inside the workpiece.