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Operational constraints on the DC induction heating of aluminum billets

Massimo Fabbri (Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy)
Antonio Morandi (Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy)
Pier Luigi Ribani (Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy)
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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the heating process of an aluminum billet rotating in a static magnetic field produced by optimized supercoducting coils.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to meet the technical specifications of industrial heating, many processes with low speed in the given high magnetic field have been simulated. The mechanical stresses in the billet are examined by taking into account the temperature dependence of the mechanical properties.

Findings

The main heating parameters, i.e. heating time, average temperature and temperature homogeneity, are evaluated for different values of angular velocity. The simulation results show that an optimal angular speed can be chosen with respect to the heating time.

Research limitations/implications

The mechanical stress in the billet due to weight, centrifugal effects, applied torque and resonance is examined by taking into account the weakening of the material properties with the increase of temperature. The practical limits of the heating process are evaluated; while resonance does not seem to be a concern, the safety against yielding, in order to avoid plastic deformation of the billet during the heating, seems to be a constraint.

Practical implications

DC induction heating of aluminum billet using superconducting magnets can be done fulfilling the specifics of the industrial processes.

Originality/value

The operational and mechanical constraints on a high‐efficiency DC induction heater for aluminum billets using superconducting coils are investigated.

Keywords

Citation

Fabbri, M., Morandi, A. and Luigi Ribani, P. (2011), "Operational constraints on the DC induction heating of aluminum billets", COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, Vol. 30 No. 5, pp. 1589-1597. https://doi.org/10.1108/03321641111152748

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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