Induction furnace for melting metals, made with their own hands: the necessary scheme and principle of operation,
Currently, stoves began to be used in everyday life, operating on the induction principle, which are commonly used in industry. That induction furnaces could be used in household conditions, their design has changed significantly, only the principle of energy conversion remained unchanged. This device can be made with your own hands from available materials. The main thing is to understand the design and understand, how this oven works.
The principle of operation of the induction furnace
The operation of such a furnace is based on the principle of induction heating. In other words, thermal energy is obtained from electric current, produced by an electromagnetic field. Due to this feature, this device differs from conventional electric heaters.
The design of the inductor is quite simple. Its center is graphite or metal electrically conductive workpiece, around which the wire should be wound. With the power of the generator in the inductor begin to run currents of different frequencies, creating a powerful electromagnetic field around the inductor. Due to the influence of such a field on the workpiece and the creation of eddy currents in it, graphite or metal begins to heat up very much and give off heat to the surrounding air.
Inductors have been used in everyday life relatively recently.
Types of induction devices
According to their purpose, such devices are household and industrial. However, such a classification is considered incomplete. There is more several types of furnaces:
- Crucible. The most common type of units, used in metallurgy. This design does not contain a core. These devices are mainly used for processing and melting of any metal. They have proven themselves in other areas.
- Channels. Their design is similar to a transformer.
- Vacuum. Applied then, when it is necessary to remove impurities from the metal.
Household stoves are divided into two groups:
- Aggregates, which are used for heating. Are induction boiler installations of the small size, which are mounted in autonomous heating systems.
- Induction hobs, on which food is prepared. The main difference from a conventional electric stove is the economical use of electricity.
You can make an induction furnace, designed for melting metals, with their own hands? Although it is, on the one hand, sophisticated equipment, and on the other hand - thanks to the relative simplicity and clarity of the principle of operation it is possible to make an induction heating device with your own hands. in addition, many professionals, possessing the necessary knowledge and skills, able to create quality units from conventional materials. To make an induction furnace with your own hands, will need a scheme and a good knowledge of physics.
Induction furnaces with their own hands mostly used for space heating. Small crucible structures are best suited for melting metals in small quantities, example, in the manufacture of jewelry or jewelry. Induction hobs are considered a great solution for country houses. And in a city apartment they are used as an additional heater, if there is a failure in the central heating system.
Scheme of induction furnace
The scheme of such a simple induction heater is necessary to perform the work. You can work without it, but undesirable, since such a heater is a complex electrical equipment. Its design and internal content are developed in advance. The scheme unites all the plans of the master into a single whole. If you need to design a stove, not a simple heater, without a scheme at all will not do.
The design of the induction furnace with your own hands is quite simple: heating element, common building, inductor. If the unit will be needed for processing materials, the melting chamber should be additionally designed. The heart of the induction furnace is the workpiece, conducting current, able to heat up to high temperatures. Nichrome spiral or graphite brushes perfectly cope with this task. Choosing between them, should focus on those tasks, facing the heater. For a melting furnace, the best option is to use graphite brushes, for the heating device - a nichrome spiral. The use of nichrome makes it possible to connect the unit to a normal mains.
How to make an induction oven with your own hands
To create an efficient unit is necessary consider the following parameters:
- frequency and power of the generator;
- speed, with which heat is lost;
- the number of losses in eddy currents.
First you need to properly select all the necessary details of the scheme to obtain sufficient conditions for melting in the workshop. If the unit is assembled with your own hands, generator frequency should be 27,12 MHz. The coil should be made of wire or a thin copper tube, it should not be more 10 turns.
The power of electronic lamps should be greater. The scheme provides for the installation of a neon lamp, which will be used as an indicator of device readiness. The scheme also provides for the use of inductors and ceramic capacitors. The connection to the home socket is made through a rectifier.
Induction furnace, made with their own hands, looks as follows: small stand on legs, to which the generator with all necessary details of the scheme fastens. And already the inductor is connected to the generator.
Advantages and disadvantages of induction furnaces
Induction units can have different power and it depends on the design features. It is very difficult to assemble an industrial frequency device with your own hands, and this is not necessary. It is better to buy them.
Induction furnaces can have both pros, and cons:
they are very reliable;
- much more economical than conventional electric heaters;
- they are used not only for heating, but also connected to the water circuit;
- you can install them in an apartment or house, without equipping a special room for this purpose;
- such a furnace is used not only as the main boiler in the autonomous heating network, but also in combination with other heat sources;
- such devices are very easy to operate, this does not require periodic service;
- the main disadvantage of the induction furnace is its high fire hazard, therefore, this should be taken into account when installing it in the living space.
Security
Working with the oven, you should be afraid of getting thermal burns. in addition, such a device has a high fire hazard. These units must never be moved during operation. You have to be very careful, when such furnaces are installed in the apartment.
Alternating electromagnetic field begins to heat the surrounding room, and this feature is directly dependent on the power and frequency of radiation of the device. Powerful industrial furnaces can affect objects, in the pockets of clothes, on the surrounding metal parts, people's fabrics.
Conclusion
The induction furnace can be made independently, but this is not always appropriate. It is better not to undertake such work, if there is absolutely no knowledge in the field of electrical equipment and physics. Before you start designing even the simplest device, it should be developed, design and draw a diagram. If there is no experience in the manufacture of electrical appliances, it is best to buy such a factory-made unit.
