Numerical Simulation Of Electromagnetic And Thermal Fields In The Mains Frequency Induction Furnace For Melting Zinc

The mains frequency induction furnaces are important equipment, which heat materials by the conductor eddy current of electromagnetic induction. It is widely used in industrial operations due to its rapid heating speed, precise control, less oxidation of metal, good quality of products and low pollution. However, maintenance costs will increase, the lifetime of induction furnaces will short as the enlargement of induction furnaces' power and capacity. Hence, how to extend the lifetime of the melting Zinc induction furnaces , optimum its design becomes a problem which needs to be urgently settled.On the basis of the characteristics of induction heating, the combinative technique of theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and experimental verification is adopted. The numerical simulation of induction heating is studied and realized by ANSYS software . The main achievements and conclusions are as follows:(1) By reading home and foreign relevant literature extensively, the history and applications of induction heating are summarized. Then, the development and status about numerical simulation of induction heating are generalized.(2) The basic principles of induction heating, significance and the principle of the skin effect and the penetration depth, proximity effect and ring effect are researched in this dissertation. At the same time the distribution of induced current have been described; the equipment and the characteristics of "jet-flow" type high power induction furnaces are presented.(3) The mathematical model of electromagnetic and temperature fields of the mains frequency induction furnace for melting Zinc is established by theory of electromagnetic field. Then, the analysis methods for electromagnetic field, thermal and coupled-field is introduced.(4) The modeling of induction heating is expatiated. The dealing methods for the boundary conditions, mesh of model physical properties of the temperature are decided. Moreover, a method for iterating thermal and magnetic analysis is put forward. The distributed characteristics of eddy and temperature fields in induction heating process are simulated by ANSYS software . And the major factors that impact the performance of induction furnaces are analyzed in detail.(5) The calculation results are validated by comparison with the practical producing results. It is approved the validity and feasibility of the method used in this dissertation. Those conclusions can be of great help in the production operation of the mains frequency induction furnaces and its optimum design.