Why Use Flux Concentrators?

Induction heating is a non-contact electromagnetic process where a conductive material (the part) passes through a magnetic field that emanates about a copper induction load coil. An electrical current is fed through the coil a specified frequency and power level to affect the heating of the part. Since only the magnetic field that intersects the part actually does any useful work, flux field concentrators can be used to conduct the magnetic field around the unused portion or open areas of the work coil. The concentrator conducts the magnetic field more efficiently than air thereby effectively aiming and intensifying the magnetic field at the area of the part to be heated. Figure 1 shows the part inside a coil. On the left, the coil is bare and on the right the coil has concentrator. The bluish area shows the effect of the magnetic flux field with and without the concentrator.

 

 

Figure 1

 

What Types of Concentrator are Available?

Induction heating concentrators come in several different types: machinable (Figure 2A) and formable (Figure 2B)  types which have iron particles suspended in a binder and silicon steel laminations (Figure 2C) which are punched shapes.

 

 

                Figure 2A                                      Figure 2B                                      Figure 2C

 

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