BATCH MELTING: ADVANCING INDUCTION FURNACE TECHNOLOGY.

The past ten years have seen the development of high reliability solid state power supplies for coreless induction melters, with inverters capable of delivering and maintaining maximum power throughout the melt cycle. The efficiency of these units has increased from the 85% level of the 1970s to 97% today. High frequency power supplies of up to 5000 kW at 500 Hz are in operation and larger units are in the planning stage. The development of flexible constant power tracking high frequency induction power supplies has resulted in widespread use of the batch melting method. Research has shown that this method increases overall melting efficiency and furnace production at lower operating and fixed costs.