Induction heating is helpful because it’s flameless, energy-efficient, and rapid. Induction furnaces are thus more preferable than other traditional heating methods. Would you like to buy an induction furnace? Do you know what makes up an ideal induction furnace? If you don’t know, then you should first learn about features that make up a perfect induction furnace from the top induction furnace manufacturers.
This post highlights the essential features and factors that you should consider when selecting an induction heating system.
How Does an Induction Furnace Work?
A typical induction system consists of a cooling system, a work-head made of a copper coil, and an induction power supply. Current flowing through the coil generates an alternating electromagnetic field, and when a conductive material gets placed in the coil, an induced current flows through the content. The resistance of the material combined with the impeded flow of the current generates heat.
Why is Choosing the Right Induction Heating System Important?
It’s essential to choose a heating system that suits your needs. Underpowered heating systems may slow your processes and prolong your working hours. Also, overpowered systems aren’t ideal because they consume more energy, and you’ll get compelled to pay more for your power. Here are some factors that you should always consider when you visit outlets of induction furnace manufacturers.
The Material You’ll Heat
Induction furnaces often heat conductive materials such as metals. But non-conductive materials can also get heated by a conductive susceptor. Metals with high levels of resistivity such as steel heat up fast, while those with low resistivity such as Aluminum need more time to heat.
Steel melts at 1370 degrees Celsius. If you’re buying a heating system for your steel foundry, you should choose one that can reach a temperature that is at least higher than 1370 degrees Celsius.
The Design of the Induction Heating Coil
Heating coils are copper-made, and they should follow the shape of the parts that you’ll heat and take the variables of your heating process into consideration. Coils with an optimal design should provide the ideal heat pattern to your material with high efficiency. Coils that aren’t well designed may deliver heat a bit slow and heat your parts in an irregular mode. You should thus consider buying flexible coils that work well with varying part geometries and large pieces.
Required Temperature Rise
The higher the temperature that your system needs, the higher the amount of power that you’ll need to supply for your system functions. The heat required will thus determine the choice of your power supply. A high rate of temperature change over a short time also requires more power. This fact means that you have to choose a heating system with a high-rated power supply.
Operating Frequency
High-power systems with low frequency are ideal for the heating of large material parts that need thorough heating. But high-frequency, low-power systems are a perfect choice for surface heating. High-frequency systems do shallow heating, and as such, you should consider your heating needs before making a choice.
Extra Heating Needs
Do you need to measure and record your system’s heating data? Some induction furnace manufacturers make a full system that has software that tracks temperature and an optical pyrometer. Choosing a system with such functionalities offers the added advantage of following your metal melting furnace processes.
Applied Power
Output power on a heating system determines the relative heating speed. You’ll need to consider heat losses from conduction and convection, the rise in temperature, and the relative rate at which your part gets heated. You can get assessment help in this area from your induction furnace manufacturers.
Induction melting systems are more beneficial than standard traditional heating systems. Buying the ideal heating system for your heating processes will ensure that your system works as per the induction furnace manufacturers’ ratings and expectations. But for such a system to work well and meet your needs, you’ll need to consider the six cited factors when choosing your induction heating system.