DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Induction heating apparatus and methods of operation thereof

Abstract

Methods of operation of an induction melter include providing material within a cooled crucible proximate an inductor. A desired electromagnetic flux skin depth for heating the material within the crucible may be selected, and a frequency of an alternating current for energizing the inductor and for producing the desired skin depth may be selected. The alternating current frequency may be adjusted after energizing the inductor to maintain the desired electromagnetic flux skin depth. The desired skin depth may be substantially maintained as the temperature of the material varies. An induction heating apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect changes in at least one physical characteristic of a material to be heated in a crucible, and a controller configured for selectively varying a frequency of an alternating current for energizing an inductor at least partially in response to changes in the physical characteristic to be detected by the sensor.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1175857
Patent Number(s):
7085305
Application Number:
10/926,900
Assignee:
Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H05 - ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR H05B - ELECTRIC HEATING
DOE Contract Number:  
AC07-99ID13727
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Richardson, John G. Induction heating apparatus and methods of operation thereof. United States: N. p., 2006. Web.
Richardson, John G. Induction heating apparatus and methods of operation thereof. United States.
Richardson, John G. Tue . "Induction heating apparatus and methods of operation thereof". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1175857.
@article{osti_1175857,
title = {Induction heating apparatus and methods of operation thereof},
author = {Richardson, John G.},
abstractNote = {Methods of operation of an induction melter include providing material within a cooled crucible proximate an inductor. A desired electromagnetic flux skin depth for heating the material within the crucible may be selected, and a frequency of an alternating current for energizing the inductor and for producing the desired skin depth may be selected. The alternating current frequency may be adjusted after energizing the inductor to maintain the desired electromagnetic flux skin depth. The desired skin depth may be substantially maintained as the temperature of the material varies. An induction heating apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect changes in at least one physical characteristic of a material to be heated in a crucible, and a controller configured for selectively varying a frequency of an alternating current for energizing an inductor at least partially in response to changes in the physical characteristic to be detected by the sensor.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2006},
month = {8}
}