Reflected impedanceometry: a contact-free technique for measuring induced magnetic hysteresis and eddy current heating

Reflected Impedanceometry is a new technique that can remotely measure the power absorbed during radiofrequency induction heating. It measures the total system impedance from the phase difference between current and voltage in the electromagnetic field work coil and uses the characteristic impedance of the work coil circuit to infer the heating power transferred into a susceptor bed. Induction heating of susceptor materials within alternating magnetic fields occurs by magnetic hysteresis, eddy currents, Neel relaxation or Brownian relaxation. It shows potential for replacing fossil fuels with renewable electricity in carbon-intensive industrial applications but requires advances in measurement techniques. Previously developed methods for measuring heating power, such as pick-up coils, are limited to applications involving magnetic materials. Results presented here show that reflected impedanceometry accurately measures heating power for both magnetic hysteresis and eddy currents, fulfilling the requirement for measuring induction heating power.