Design and Optimization of Small Inductors on Extra-Thin PCB for Flexible Cooking Surfaces

The following paper describes the design and optimization method for a small inductor in printed circuit board, which is later used in the implementation of a flexible cooking surface prototype. The method combines analytical developments with finite element analysis (FEA) simulations, providing an important decrease of the computational costs. This is followed by the corresponding calculations in order to minimize conduction and proximity losses in the winding by optimizing the copper volume in the winding and the conductor cross-section dimensions. A parametric analysis is carried out to define the induction system that leads to the optimal efficiency, which, moreover, proves extra-thin PCBs as the most suitable solution. A laboratory prototype of a flexible cooking surface was implemented and tested under real working conditions. The empirical characterization produced good results, which are consistent with the simulations. Additionally, the correct thermal behavior of the arrangement and its adaptability to different pot sizes was verified.