Induction furnace

An electric furnace that heats or melts conductive material through electromagnetic induction. An alternating current in a coil induces currents in the charge, producing heat within the material itself.

Electromagnetic induction: The production of an electromotive force in a conductor by a changing magnetic field. The furnace’s coil induces currents in the conductive charge through this phenomenon.
Electrical conductivity: A material property measuring how readily electric charge flows through a substance. The charge must conduct electricity for induced currents to generate heat within it.
Coreless induction furnace: An induction furnace whose coil surrounds a crucible containing the charge, without an iron core. This common design melts and holds metals across a wide range of batch sizes.
Electric arc furnace: A furnace that melts material using heat from electric arcs between electrodes and the charge. It heats mainly through arcs rather than currents induced inside the charge.
Foundry: An industrial facility where metal is melted and cast into shaped products. Induction furnaces are widely used in foundries to melt metal cleanly and control its composition.
Eddy current: A circulating electric current induced within a conductor by a changing magnetic field. These currents dissipate energy as heat inside the furnace charge.
Magnetic permeability: A measure of how a material responds to an applied magnetic field. It influences magnetic coupling and heating behavior, especially in ferromagnetic charges.
Channel induction furnace: An induction furnace with a narrow molten-metal channel that acts as a transformer’s secondary circuit. Its channel design suits continuous melting or holding of large quantities of metal.
Cupola furnace: A vertical, coke-fired furnace used chiefly to melt cast iron. Unlike induction furnaces, it melts metal through combustion and direct contact with hot gases.
Metal recycling: The recovery and reprocessing of metal scrap into usable material. Induction furnaces can remelt scrap, making them useful in recycling and secondary metal production.

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Induction heatingBroader topic: It applies induction heating to large-scale metal melting and holding.