Magnetothermal Analysis of Gold Melting in Crucible-Based Induction Furnaces Using Finite Volume Method

This study examines the thermal and electromagnetic behavior of pure gold during induction heating, an area that has received limited research attention despite the widespread industrial use of induction technology for melting various metals. The research employs a finite volume computational method to analyze a 50 Hz crucible-based induction furnace [1], diverging from the finite element techniques typically used in previous investigations. The analysis focuses on determining the time and energy requirements needed to bring gold to its melting point of 1337.33 K, tracking the coupled magnetic and thermal processes throughout the heating cycle. The study presents theoretical foundations of electromagnetic and heat transfer principles. However, the modeling approach does not capture the actual melting transition or the coexistence of solid-liquid phases, as incorporating these phenomena would require advanced phase-change modeling and fluid dynamics calculations beyond the current scope.