Applications of Induction Heating in Industrial Processes

Induction Heating is an efficient and safe non-contact process that heats metal parts from within. It is an excellent choice for a variety of applications, including hardening and welding.

Induction heating uses a magnetic field to generate eddy currents that penetrate a conductive material, heating it from inside. The induced currents are distributed throughout the material and the depth of penetration (called skin depth) is dependent on frequency, electromagnetic properties of the conductive material and other factors.

Heat Treating

The heat-treating process consists of a series of stages of heating and cooling metal parts to change their physical properties. These stages include annealing, normalizing, hardening and tempering.

These processes help to improve the mechanical characteristics of metals like tensile strength, yield strength, ductility and corrosion resistance. They also help to prevent rust.

For these reasons, many companies outsource their heat treating to commercial facilities. However, these processes can be costly and require specialized equipment to meet safety and environmental standards.

Induction technology allows for manufacturers to bring their own heat-treating procedures back in-house with safe and energy efficient induction heating equipment. Radyne offers several induction scanners that are versatile enough for use across a variety of industries.

Welding

Welding is a form of metalworking process that uses heat and pressure to join different types of metals together. Welding is a highly skilled and versatile craft that can be used for a wide variety of applications, such as building and maintaining heavy equipment in the construction industry.

Induction Heating is a popular and flexible heating option for many pipe welding processes, as well as flat plate welding. It provides significant benefits, including faster setup and time-to-temperature, more consistent heating and improved safety for the operator.

Induction heating uses a high-frequency magnetic field to induce eddy currents that heat the part. This process heats the part to a much deeper depth than resistance heating. This enables it to be more efficient on thicker and odd-shaped parts that might require lengthy preheating with resistance heating.

Preheating

Preheating is an important part of many welding applications. By slowing weld cooling rates and lowering hydrogen, it helps reduce the risk of cracking and the potential for a failed weld.

Induction is a good choice for this application because it offers quick setup and a fast time to temperature. It also delivers uniform heated areas.

Induction is an efficient method for heating a variety of different metals and sizes. Its high degree of accuracy and consistent performance can reduce rework and improve quality.

Shrink Fitting

Shrink Fitting is a method used in industrial processes to attach metal parts together using an interference fit. The process works by expanding the outer metal part and allowing it to shrink onto the inner metal part as it cools.

The advantage of this process is that it requires no mechanical pressure and is fast, easy and efficient. It also reduces residual deformation and stresses in the component.

It can be performed on many types of metals including mild and low alloy steel. Induction heating allows precise control over heat and rapid heating times which can save energy and make it ideal for large components requiring frequent disassembly and reassembly.

Induction technology is particularly well suited to shrink fitting applications because it provides a uniform and consistent temperature distribution. This ensures that the part doesn’t overheat in some areas and not enough in others, reducing waste and production costs.

Stenting

Stents are small, metal mesh tubes that are implanted with a catheter and permanently embedded within a clogged artery. They prop open the artery, which prevents it from narrowing again and leads to potentially life-threatening complications.

They are used to treat coronary arteries that have a buildup of plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance that forms in the walls of blood vessels and can restrict fresh, oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart.

Some stents are coated with medications that help prevent scar tissue from forming inside the stent. These stents are called drug-eluting stents (DES).

Bare metal stents are rarely used because they often cause re-narrowing of the artery due to a growth of scar tissue inside the stent. These stents may require long-term use of antiplatelet drugs to help prevent blood clots from forming.

-- Abdul Alim - 2023-05-01

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