Development of a 1.2 MW Superconducting Induction Heater Using MgB2 NI Magnets

In industry, there are many issues with the implementation of conventional heating furnaces. Specially, there issues include environmental protection policies put in place by governments and old and inefficient technologies for heating metals. Additionally, work spaces can be large, dirty, dangerous, and dull. As a possible solution to these issues, a superconducting induction heater (SIH) with high efficiency was developed using MgB2 magnet manufacturing technologies. This paper introduces and discusses the development of a 1.2 MW SIH using MgB2 NI magnets. The target magnetic flux density of the magnets with iron cores for 1,200 kW SIH was determined to achieve a high heating capacity for heating iron billets. The simulation results for the magnets were analyzed using finite element method (FEM) modeling. The experimental tests and results are presented in detail. The largest MgB2 magnets in the world were fabricated and tested and demonstrated outstanding operational results. These testing processes will be helpful for the heating characteristics analysis of various MgB2 magnets for commercialization.