Comparison of edge-effects of transverse flux and travelling wave induction heating inductors

In this paper a comparison of the edge-effects in the induction heating of thin aluminium strips by transverse flux (TF) and travelling wave (TW) inductors at power frequencies is presented. The main attention is focused on the choice of the optimal position of the inductor relative to the strip for both systems in order to minimise the unevenness of power density distribution, both in the workpiece cross section and along the strip movement direction. The calculations of the electromagnetic field quantities have been made by 3D finite element models