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The purpose of this paper is to present a calculation optimization method that is able to achieve the best induced power profile (and subsequent temperature distribution) in a disk or billet workpiece processed by induction heating.

A volume integral method, also known as the mutually coupled circuits method, is implemented in MatLab^® environment to solve axial‐symmetrical induction systems. It is completed with an optimization procedure based on Nelder‐Mead simplex algorithm, with the goal of obtaining a specified distribution of the induced power in the load. In this way, it is possible to predict current amplitudes for implementing the so‐called “zone controlled induction heating” (ZCIH) process.

Some examples of calculation results are given, both for disc and billet loads. By the excitation of the inductor coils with a set of currents of appropriate amplitude and phase values, it is possible to achieve an optimized profile of induced power distributions.

This paper validates a method to predict currents and phases in a load‐inductor ZCIH system, confirming the possibility of obtaining specified induced power density distributions, according to the process requirements, e.g. for compensation of the load edge‐effect.