Why is a high permeability desirable for induction heating?

In summary: Thanks for your help!In summary, the resistance per unit length of a conducting wire is proportional to the square root of the ratio of permeability to conductivity.
  • #1
goedelite
36
0
The resistance per unit length of a conducting wire is proportional to the square root of the ratio of permeability to conductivity.

The power generated as heat may be expressed as I-squared x R: also as V-squared / R.

In induction, the EMF induced is determined by the rate of change of the magnetic flux (Faraday). Thus, it would seem to me that the appropriate calculation of the heat produced in the conductor is given by V(induced) - squared / R. As a result, the heat is proportional to the square root of the ratio of conductivity to permeability (since R is in the denominator, above.) Thus, the higher the permeability (as in a ferromagnetic conductor) the lower the heat loss.

This is contrary to the case where the current is constant, determined by an external source of EMF. In that case, the heat generated is proportional to the product of the current squared and the resistance: I - squared x R. In this case, the heat generated is proportional to the square root of the ratio of the permeability to the conductivity.

In discussing why a high permeability is desirable in induction heating, the latter analysis is usually presented. But the induction current is not determined directly by an external source of EMF but instead by the changing magnetic flux from the primary current. It seems to me that the constant quantity is the induced EMF and not the induced current.

Please help me understand why this is not correct.
 
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  • #2
I THINK the issue is that the EMF determines the Current in the material which determines the heat generated. But I am not sure.
 
  • #3
Drakkith said:
I THINK the issue is that the EMF determines the Current in the material which determines the heat generated. But I am not sure.

Certainly, you are correct. The EMF does determine the current in the conductor being induction-heated. But, not directly. I have taken up the third-year college physics challenge by treating the problem as if it were two coupled circuits, coupled by their mutual inductance - as if it were a transformer situation. The two circuit equations can be solved for a periodic solution, and the secondary current determined in terms of V, M, L1, L2, mu1, mu2, the conductivities and the frequency, omega. From the secondary current, with reasonable approximations, I expect to see that the constant current is fairly well determined as you wrote by the EMF. However, I am not sure either. Thanks for your reply.

Meanwhile, if anyone has a quick answer that is convincing, please don't be hesitant!
 
  • #4
Does the changing magnetic field produce heat by the magnetic domains in the material changing directions?
 
  • #5
Drakkith said:
Does the changing magnetic field produce heat by the magnetic domains in the material changing directions?

In the application I have in mind, the heating is the ordinary resistance heating. Surely, some of the heat does in fact come from such losses. But my interest is in the skin effect, the confining of the currents to the surface of the heated conductor. That confinement raises the resistance per unit length. In conductors of low permeability the confinement is low.
 
  • #6
Ah ok. Well, sorry I couldn't help!
 
  • #7
Drakkith said:
Ah ok. Well, sorry I couldn't help!

Not at all! A little conversation is very motivating. Thanks!
 
  • #8
The transformer equations are solved and presented on the net for the simple case I had in mind; saves me work. The result, in the form of the secondary current, does not help me in understanding the usual argument regarding induction heating and the need for a high permeability metal on the "burner". No doubt, that is true. Rather than treating the pan or pot like the secondary of a transformer, I should be treating the currents for what they are, eddy currents, rather than currents in a secondary. Therein may be the explanation I am looking for.
 
  • #9
I have been making the issue more complicated than it is. The usual discussion of induction cooking simply says for a given current induced in the pot, a high permeability pot is desirable. Therefore one calculates the power using Isquare R in comparing rather than Vsquare / R.

I can't discard all my aluminum cookware; so I'll avoid induction cookers. Thanks to all!
Problem solved!
 

What is induction heating?

Induction heating is a method of heating electrically conductive materials by using electromagnetic induction. This involves passing an alternating electric current through a coil, which creates a varying magnetic field. When a conductive material is placed within this field, it experiences eddy currents, which causes it to heat up.

How does induction heating work?

Induction heating works through the principle of electromagnetic induction. An alternating current is passed through a coil, creating a varying magnetic field. When a conductive material is placed within this field, it experiences eddy currents, which causes it to heat up due to its electrical resistance.

What are the advantages of induction heating?

There are several advantages to induction heating, including: high energy efficiency, precise and controllable heating, fast heating rates, minimal heat loss, and the ability to heat specific areas of a material without affecting the rest of it. It is also a clean and safe method of heating, as there is no open flame or hot surfaces.

What types of materials can be heated using induction heating?

Induction heating can be used to heat a wide range of electrically conductive materials, including metals, plastics, and even some non-metallic materials. This method is particularly effective for materials with low electrical resistance, such as copper, aluminum, and steel.

What are some common applications of induction heating?

Induction heating has many industrial and commercial applications, including metal melting and casting, brazing, annealing, heat treating, and soldering. It is also used in cooking appliances, such as induction cooktops and rice cookers, as well as medical devices, such as induction-based hyperthermia treatment equipment.

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