Optimal design of an inductor for transverse flux heating using a combinedevolutionary-simplex method

Transverse flux induction heating (TFH) is a process advantageously applied for the heat treatment of thin non-ferrous metal strips. In comparison wit h the better known longitudinal flux heating the design of TFH inductors is more complex. In fact both the prediction of power density distribution in the strip and the calculation of the thermal transient during the heating process require a solution of 3D electromagnetic and thermal problems Moreo ver the requirements for a good inductor design are in conflict with each o ther. In the paper a code for the solution of 3D electromagnetic and therma l problems suitable for the design of TFH systems is presented. The analyti cal-numerical approach (analytical for the electromagnetic problem, numeric al for the thermal one) is suitable for coupling with optimisation algorith ms. Both evolutionary strategy and simplex methods and their combination ha ve been used in order to obtain an optimal design for a particular applicat ion of TFH.