Affiliations: [a] Department of Electrical Engineering, National Chin-Yi
University of Technology, Taiping, Taichung, Taiwan
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Hung-Cheng Chen, Department of Electrical
Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, 35, Lane 215, Section
1, Chungshan Road, Taiping, Taichung 411, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 4 23924505
ext.7255; Fax: +886 4 23924419; E-mail: hcchen@ncut.edu.tw
Abstract: The analysis of an induction heating cooker is a complex process
because induction heating is a combination of electromagnetic and heat
transfer. In this paper, a coupled electromagnetic and thermal field analysis
tool for education is proposed. The tool is based on the finite element method.
A very simple and highly practical finite element computation procedure has
also been developed, coded, implemented, and intensively used to simulate and
analyze the above problem in a multiphysics environment. Particular attention
is given to graphically visualizing the magnetic flux density of a specified
induction heating cooker geometry. The corresponding induced eddy current
density profile and temperature distribution are also presented. It gives a
deeper insight into both electromagnetic and thermal phenomena for students.
The forces on the plate caused by the eddy currents can also be studied and
demonstrated in the numerical model. Combinations of geometric display and
graphically parametric representations are effective for students to understand
the designed induction heating cooker performance. The finite element
simulation results of the transient temperature distribution are evaluated and
compared with the experimental results. The accuracy of the simulation is
demonstrated and appreciated. This finite element simulation and graphical
visualization are therefore proposed as a valuable alternative prior to the
actual final induction heating cooker design. Furthermore, in order to take
care of the possible biological effects, some effort is expended to eliminate
electromagnetic leakage emitted by the induction heating cooker.
