Temperature distribution in aluminum billets heated by rotation in static magnetic field produced by superconducting magnets

Purpose – To investigate the feasibility of a novel scheme of high‐efficiency induction heater for nonmagnetic metal billets which use superconducting coils.Design/methodology/approach – The idea is to force the billet to rotate in a static magnetic field produced by a DC superconducting magnet. Since a static superconducting magnet has no losses, the efficiency of the system is the efficiency of the motor used. In order to evaluate the temperature distribution arising from the field profile produced by a given SC coil configuration, a numerical model, based on an equivalent electric network with temperature‐dependent parameters, is developed.Findings – A substantial independence of the shape of the temperature profile on the angular velocity and the value of the uniform magnetic field applied, is observed. A strong temperature gradient is observed in the radial direction in the proximity of the penetration front and in the axial direction at the top and bottom surface of the billet. Small temperature gra...