Coil design optimization for an induction evaporation process: Simulation and experiment

For the purpose of utilizing induction heating in the evaporation process, the effects of induction coil design and droplet size on induction heating efficiency are investigated. Electro-magnetic simulations with various induction coil designs were conducted to predict the electro-magnetic field distribution. The induction coils were fabricated in order to verify the simulation results under atmospheric evaporation test conditions. The electro-magnetic simulation results indicated that the magnetic field became widened around the Zn droplet when the size of the Zn droplet increased. This in turn attributed to the increase in induction heating energy efficiency. The energy efficiency of the induction coil with 4-windings was the highest among the 3-, 4-, and 5-windings induction coils. Energy efficiency tendencies derived by the atmospheric evaporation tests corresponded well to the simulation results, and maximum energy efficiency was measured to be 42% under the atmospheric evaporation tests.