An Optimization of Inductive Coil Design for Thixoforging and Its Experimental Study

The reheating of the billet in the semi-solid state as quickly and homogeneously as possible is one of the most important aspects. From this point of view, an optimal design of the induction coil is necessary. The objective of inductive coil designsi a uniform induction heating over the length of the billet. The effect of coil length, diameter, the gap between coil surface and billet and axial position of the billet on temperature distribution of billet has been investigated. These design parameters have an important effectiveness on the electro-magnetic field. Therefore, in this study an optimal coil design to minimize electromagnetic ed effect will be proposed by defining the relationship between billet length and coil length. In particular, key point in induction heating process is focussed on optimizing the coil design with regard to the size of the heating billet and the frequency of induction heating system. After demonstrating the suitability of an optimal coil design through the FEM simulation of the induction heating process, the results of the coil design are also applied to the reheating process to obtain a fine globular microstructure. Its considered that the reheating conditions of aluminum alloys for thixoforging and a new CAE model of the induction heating process are very useful for thixoforging practitioners including induction heating ones.