The efficiency of an induction heating system for a specific application depends on several factors: the characteristics of the part itself, the design of the inductor, the capacity of the power supply, and the amount of temperature change required for the application.
The Characteristics of the Part
METAL OR PLASTIC: induction heating works directly only with conductive materials
MAGNETIC OR NON-MAGNETIC: It is easier to heat magnetic materials.
THICK OR THIN: small or thin parts generally heat more quickly than large thick parts, especially if the larger parts need to be heated all the way through. And the higher the frequency, the shallower the heating in the part.
RESISTIVITY: Low resistivity metals such as copper, brass and aluminum take longer to heat. Resistivity increases with temperature, so a very hot piece of steel will be more receptive to induction heating than a cold piece.
Inductor Design
Inductor design is one of the most important aspects of the overall system. A well-designed inductor provides the proper heating pattern for your part and maximizes the efficiency of the induction heating power supply
Power Supply Capacity
The size of the induction power supply required for heating a particular part can be easily calculated. First, one must determine how much energy needs to be transferred to the work-piece. This depends on the mass of the material being heated, the specific heat of the material, and the rise in temperature required. Heat losses from conduction, convection and radiation should also be considered.
