Induction coils as non-contact temperature boosters and flow boosters for ferrous and non-ferrous materials in a furnace
AssigneeInductotherm Corp.
InventorsSatyen N. Prabhu, Nier Wu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus comprising an induction furnace with a thermally and electrically conductive or non-conductive crucible containing an electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material is provided with at least one bottom induction coil, one side induction coil and one top induction coil disposed exteriorly around the bottom, side and over the top surface of the material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible to provide a non-contact temperature boost or a flow rate boost to the material by selectively energizing a combination of the coils.
Claims20
An apparatus for a temperature or flow rate of an electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in an induction furnace, the apparatus comprising:
- a conductive or non-conductive crucible to contain the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material;
- a bottom support structure to support a bottom of the conductive or non-conductive crucible;
- a bottom magnetic flux concentrator disposed below the bottom support structure;
- an at least one bottom induction coil disposed between the bottom support structure and the bottom magnetic flux concentrator;
- at least one side induction coil disposed exteriorly at least partially along a height of the conductive or non-conductive crucible;
- wherein the at least one side induction coil comprises a spirally wound inductor coil lying in a same horizontal plane defining a pancake configuration;
- and
- at least one top induction coil disposed over a top surface of the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible whereby a magnetic field generated by a flow of an AC current through the at least one bottom, side and top induction coils penetrate the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible to induce an eddy current in the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material that boost the temperature or flow rate of the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible.
An apparatus for boosting a temperature or flow rate of an electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material, comprising:
- either a conductive or non-conductive crucible to contain the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material;
- a bottom support structure to support the bottom of the conductive or non-conductive crucible, the bottom support structure having passages therein for the transmission of an electromagnetic field;
- a magnetic flux concentrator disposed below the bottom support structure;
- and
- an at least one bottom induction coil disposed between the bottom support structure and the magnetic flux concentrator;
- at least one side induction coil disposed exteriorly at least partially along a height of the conductive or non-conductive crucible;
- wherein the at least one side induction coil comprises a spirally wound inductor coil lying in a same horizontal plane defining a pancake configuration;
- and
- at least one top induction coil disposed over a top surface of the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible;
- the at least one bottom, side and top induction coils each formed from an at least one active coil section and an at least one passive coil section whereby a magnetic field generated by a flow of AC current through the at least one bottom, side and top induction coils penetrate the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible to induce an eddy current in the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material to boost the temperature or to boost the flow rate of the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible.
A method of boosting a temperature or flow rate of an electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in a conductive or non-conductive crucible comprising the steps:
- supporting the conductive or non-conductive crucible on a bottom support structure;
- placing the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible;
- generating a plurality of magnetic fields from a flow of an AC current through an at least one bottom induction coil disposed below the bottom support structure;
- an at least one side induction coil;
- and an at least one top induction coil;
- wherein the at least one side induction coil comprises a spirally wound inductor coil lying in a same horizontal plane defining a pancake configuration;
- directing the plurality of magnetic fields towards the bottom, side and top surface of the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible;
- and
- magnetically coupling the magnetic field with the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible to boost the temperature or to boost the flow rate of the electrically conductive ferrous or non-ferrous material in the conductive or non-conductive crucible.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.