The development and application of induction furnace technology are briefly introduced as follows:
In 1831, Faraday (M. Faraday) discovered the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction: when the magnetic flux passing through a closed conductor loop changes, an induced current is generated in the loop. Based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction, Faraday created the modern concept of induction heating.
In 1890, the Swedes invented the first induction melting furnace, a slotted-cored furnace. In 1916, the Americans manufactured a closed-slotted cored furnace for the smelting of non-ferrous metals.
The industrial frequency furnace was produced in the 1930s. In 1921, the coreless furnace appeared in the United States, using a spark-type intermediate frequency power supply. Later, the intermediate frequency unit power supply and the current thyristor variable frequency power supply appeared. age.
In 1957, the thyristor developed by the United States marked the beginning of modern power electronics technology and also led induction heating technology into practical applications.
In 1966, Switzerland and West Germany first developed induction heating devices using thyristors, and since then induction heating technology has developed rapidly. Soon, high-frequency power supplies and frequency multiplier power supplies also appeared one after another due to different process requirements.
China’s induction furnace heating technology really began in 1956, imported from the former Soviet Union, and mainly used in the automobile industry.
In the late 20th century, with the development of the power supply equipment manufacturing industry, induction hardening process equipment followed closely behind.
Now China’s induction hardening process equipment is expanding day by day, with a wide variety of products. The equipment that originally needed to be imported is gradually replaced by domestic products.
While saving foreign exchange for the country, it has also developed related domestic enterprises.
At present, the main service object of the induction heating manufacturing industry is the automobile manufacturing industry. In the future, the modern metallurgical industry will have a higher demand for induction heating.
At present, the development of induction furnace technology is proceeding in the following directions:
1) The high-frequency power supply uses semiconductor power devices, and the output power is getting larger and larger.
2) For medium-frequency induction melting furnaces, the greater the power of the power supply, the greater the number of rectified pulses, and the larger the furnace body configured.
3) The tonnage of vacuum induction furnaces is increasing.
4) With special induction heating, the accuracy error of the temperature control of the heated metal is getting smaller and smaller.
5) The power of multiple power supplies for induction heating (one tow more) is getting bigger and bigger, and more and more furnaces are towed.
6) The detection, control, and management of the system by computer software are becoming more simplified, intelligent, and networked, and have fault self-diagnosis functions.