Induction Heating of a Steel Billet

Application ID: 330


This app demonstrates the following:

  • Geometry parts and parameterized geometries
  • Using tables for user input parameters
  • Visualization on a 2D cross-section of a 3D geometry
  • Improved visualization and user experience when a geometry object (the air object) is hidden.

Induction heating is a method used to heat metals for forging and other applications. Compared with more traditional heating methods, such as gas or electric furnaces, induction heating delivers heating power directly to the piece in a more controlled way and allows for a faster processing time.

The app is used to design a simple induction heating system for a steel billet, consisting of one or more electromagnetic coils through which the billet is moved at a constant velocity. The coils are energized with alternating currents and induce eddy currents in the metallic billet, generating heat due to Joule heating. The billet cross section; the coil number, placement, and size; as well as the initial and ambient temperature and the individual coil currents can all be specified as inputs in the app.

This application example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products: