Thermal Analysis for the Solar Concentrating Energy and Induction Heating for Metals

A. Rojas-Morín[1], Y. Flores-Salgado[2], A. Barba-Pingarrón[1], R. Valdéz-Navarro[1], F. Mendéz[1], O. Alvarez-Brito[3], M. Salgado-Baltazar[1]
[1]Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F. México
[2]DGTIC, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F. México
[3]Programa de Posgrado en Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Published in 2013

In this paper, we simulated the heating of a work piece by coupling two heat sources. Concentrated solar energy was applied at the bottom of the work piece, which generated a heat flux from the parabolic solar dish concentrator. Subsequently, induction heating was applied, which generated Eddy currents that circulated through the work piece and heated the surface of the material. A numerical simulation for solving Maxwell's equations and coupled (AC/DC Module) and transient heat transfer conditions (Heat Transfer Module) was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics®. In this case, the magnetic field and temperature distribution of a cylindrical magnetic metal was obtained for two dimensions, and the heating time of the work piece was also determined.