Transient numerical simulation of a thermoelectrical problem in cylindrical induction heating furnaces

This paper concerns the mathematical modelling and numerical solution of thermoelectrical phenomena taking place in an axisymmetric induction heating furnace. We formulate the problem in a two-dimensional domain and propose a finite element method and an iterative algorithm for its numerical solution. We also provide a family of one-dimensional analytical solutions which are used to test the two-dimensional code and to predict the behaviour of the furnace under special conditions. Some numerical results for an industrial furnace used in silicon purification are shown.