Induction Heat Treatment & Role of Simulation Software

Induction heating is an efficient way to quickly heat electrically conductive metals with pinpoint accuracy.

Dr. phys. Vadims Geza Chief Scientist at CENOS LLC

Dr. phys. Mihails Scepanskis CEO and co-founder of CENOS LLC

Induction starts with a coil of conductive material. Initial design and optimization of the process is very complicated - it’s hard to predict power, frequency and heating time to get necessary results . Computer simulation for induction heating is a powerful tool that enables engineers to investigate or design a physical system and process using a virtual mathematical model, thus saving time and money on numerous physical design iterations.

Induction heating computer simulation offers the most efficient means of developing customized and optimized solutions and is, therefore, a necessity – not a luxury – in the modern induction heating industry .This article lists features and benefits, obstacles and solutions of induction heating; advantages and disadvantages of computer simulation vs physical testing; what should be taken into account when choosing the right simulation software .

Today induction heating is used in many industrial processes, such as heat treatment in metallurgy, crystal growth and zone refining used in the semiconductor industry, and to melt metals which require very high temperatures. Typical application areas include:

• Automotive

• Construction

• Aerospace

• Metallurgical plants

• Oil & gas component manufacturing

• Special applications

Salient features of induction heating include:

• Heat generation occurs inside the part

• Heating is contactless - as a result, product warpage, distortion and reject rates are minimized

• Method can provide very high power densities

• Heating may be highly selective in the depth and along the surface