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1 – 6 of 6Oscar Lucia, Hector Sarnago and José M. Burdio
Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors have emerged as a disruptive technology in the power electronics sphere. This paper aims to analyse and discuss the importance for induction…
Abstract
Purpose
Wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductors have emerged as a disruptive technology in the power electronics sphere. This paper aims to analyse and discuss the importance for induction heating systems and gives some examples and highlights some future design trends and perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
The benefits of WBG semiconductors are reviewed with a special emphasis on induction heating applications.
Findings
WBG devices enable the design of higher-performance induction heating power supplies. A significant selection of the reported converters is discussed, highlighting the benefits of this technology.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the benefits of WBG semiconductors and their potential to change and improve induction heating technology in the next years.
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Keywords
Pablo Guillén, Hector Sarnago, Oscar Lucia and José M. Burdio
The purpose of this paper is to develop a load detection method for domestic induction cooktops. The solution aims to minimize its impact in the converter power transmission while…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a load detection method for domestic induction cooktops. The solution aims to minimize its impact in the converter power transmission while enabling the estimation of the equivalent electrical parameters of the load. This method is suitable for a multi-output resonant inverter topology with shared power devices.
Design/methodology/approach
The considered multi-output converter presents power devices that are shared between several loads. Thus, applying load detection methods in the literature requires a halt in the power transfer to ensuring safe operation. The proposed method uses a complementary short-voltage pulse to excite the induction heating (IH) coil without stopping the power transfer to the remaining IH loads. With the current through the coil and the analytical equations, the equivalent inductance and resistance of the load is estimated. The precision of the method has been evaluated by simulation, and experimental results are provided.
Findings
The measurement of the current through the induction coil as a response to a short-time single-pulse voltage variation provides enough information to estimate the load equivalent parameters, allowing to differentiate between no-load, non-suitable IH load and suitable IH load situations.
Originality/value
The proposed method provides a solution for load detection without requiring additional circuitry. It aims for low power transmission to the load and ensures zero-voltage switching and reduced peak current even in no-load cases. Moreover, the proposed solution is extensible to less complex converters, as the half bridge.
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Alejandro Naval, Hector Sarnago, Ignacio Lope, Oscar Lucia and José M. Burdio
Litz wire manufacturing using mechanical procedures presents several limitations regarding reliability and repeatability, especially when a small strand diameter is used. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Litz wire manufacturing using mechanical procedures presents several limitations regarding reliability and repeatability, especially when a small strand diameter is used. This paper aims to propose a power supply design for Litz wire manufacturing using a high-frequency high-performance resonant converter.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes the design of a resonant power supply for induction heating specially designed to tackle with the challenge of heating Litz wires quickly.
Findings
The proposed converter enables the removal of the isolating coating from the Litz wire through induction heating, improving significantly the manufacturing process.
Originality/value
The proposed converter improves significantly the manufacturing process of Litz wire through induction heating, with economic and reliability benefits.
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Ignacio Jesús Álvarez Gariburo, Hector Sarnago and Oscar Lucia
Plasma technology has become of great interest in a wide variety of industrial and domestic applications. Moreover, the application of plasma in the domestic field has increased…
Abstract
Purpose
Plasma technology has become of great interest in a wide variety of industrial and domestic applications. Moreover, the application of plasma in the domestic field has increased in recent years due to its applications to surface treatment and disinfection. In this context, there is a significant need for versatile power generators able to generate a wide range of output voltage/current ranging from direct current (DC) to tens of kHz in the range of kVs. The purpose of this paper is to develop a highly versatile power converter for plasma generation based on a multilevel topology.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a versatile multilevel topology able to generate versatile output waveforms. The followed methodology includes simulation of the proposed architecture, design of the power electronics, control and magnetic elements and test laboratory tests after building an eight-level prototype.
Findings
The proposed converter has been designed and tested using an experimental prototype. The designed generator is able to operate at 10 kVpp output voltage and 10 kHz, proving the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Originality/value
The proposed converter enables versatile waveform generation, enabling advanced studies in plasma generation. Unlike previous proposals, the proposed converter features bidirectional operation, allowing to test complex reactive loads. Besides, complex waveforms can be generated, allowing testing complex patterns for optimized cold-plasma generation methods. Besides, unlike transformer- or resonant-network-based approaches, the proposed generator features very low output impedance regardless the operating point, exhibiting improved and reliable performance for different operating conditions.
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Ignacio Jesús Álvarez Gariburo, Hector Sarnago and Oscar Lucia
Induction heating processes need to adapt to complex geometries or variable processes that require a high degree of flexibility in the induction heating setup. This is usually…
Abstract
Purpose
Induction heating processes need to adapt to complex geometries or variable processes that require a high degree of flexibility in the induction heating setup. This is usually done using complex inductors or adaptable resonant tanks, which leads to costly and constrained implementations. This paper aims to propose a multi-level, versatile power supply able to adapt the output to the required induction heating process.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a versatile multilevel topology able to generate versatile output waveforms. The methodology followed includes simulation of the proposed architecture, design of the power electronics, control and magnetic elements and laboratory tests after building a 10-level prototype.
Findings
The proposed converter has been designed and tested using an experimental prototype. The designed generator is able to operate at 1 kVpp and 100 A at 250 kHz, proving the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Originality/value
The proposed converter enables versatile waveform generation, enabling advanced tests and processes on induction heating system. The proposed system allows for multifrequency generation using a single inductor and converter, or advanced tests for inductive and capacitive components used on induction heating systems. Unlike previous multifrequency proposals, the proposed generator enables a significantly improved versatility in terms of operational frequency and amplitude in a single converter.
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Borja López-Alonso, Pablo Briz, Hector Sarnago, José M. Burdio and Oscar Lucia
This paper aims to study the feasibility of proposed method to focus the electroporation ablation by mean of multi-output multi-electrode system.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the feasibility of proposed method to focus the electroporation ablation by mean of multi-output multi-electrode system.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed method has been developed based on a previously designed electroporation system, which has the capabilities to modify the electric field distribution in real time, and to estimate the impedance distribution. Taking into consideration the features of the system and biological tissues, the problem has been addressed in three phases: modeling, control system design and simulation testing. In the first phase, a finite element analysis model has been proposed to reproduce the electric field distribution within the hepatic tissue, based on the characteristics of the electroporation system. Then, a control strategy has been proposed with the goal of ensuring complete ablation while minimizing the affected volume of healthy tissue. Finally, to check the feasibility of the proposal, several representative cases have been simulated, and the results have been compared with those obtained by a traditional system.
Findings
The proposed method achieves the proposed goal, as part of a complex electroporation system designed to improve the targeting, effectiveness and control of electroporation treatments and serve to demonstrate the feasibility of developing new electroporation systems capable of adapting to changes in the preplanning of the treatment in real-time.
Originality/value
The work presents a thorough study of control method to multi-output multi-electrode electroporation system by mean of a rigorous numerical simulation.
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