Innovative induction heating technology based on transformer theory: Inner heating of electrolyte solution via alternating magnetic field

The study proposes an innovative induction heating technology for inner heating of aqueous electrolyte solution. The thermal effect on the solution because of alternating magnetic field was observed through an experimental transformer device. The heating principle is consistent with the operating basis of a transformer. The theoretical basis of this technology is to determine whether the induced current passing through a coil of the solution would produce a primary current increase. KCl solution of 0.5 mol/L or 2 mol/L was used to investigate the effectiveness of this heating technology. And solution samples acted as the secondary circuit of a transformer. Induced voltage was loaded on the solution coil and the heating tube. Results demonstrated that AC impedance of the solution coil was extremely high. The current density could be improved when the internal diameter of the heating tube was reduced. A primary current increase was measurable as a result of the induced current in the coil of KCl solutions, then causing the thermal effect. It is demonstrated that 0.31 ml of 0.5 mol/L KCl solution could be heated up to 90 degrees C within 28 s using alternating magnetic field, that is an inner heating process. The heating rate was relatively high at higher KCl concentration. The efficiency of the heating was calculated according to the principle of the transformer, which ranged from 4.65% to 21.24%. The thermal efficiency of the method needs to be further improved for rapid temperature rise. The technology will have broad application space in chemical synthesis, and it is also a sister technology of ohmic heating.