Optimization of the width of a thin plate in a transverse flux induction furnace

This paper presents the analysis of a transverse flux induction furnace. The originality of the analysis presented in this paper is to use successively three different formulations in order to solve the magneto-thermal coupled problem. The Whitney elements (node based, edge based, facet based and volume based elements) are shown to be a convenient mean to perform naturally that coupling and to fullfil convergence conditions for the iterative solver. Index terms - Coupling, eddy currents, electromagnetic heating, finite element methods, induction heating, thermal devices.