A new efficiency figure of merit for induction heating appliances operating under highly variable operating conditions.

Induction heating is an efficient and high-performance heating method which already has a significant market penetration and economic impact due to its benefits inherent to contactless energy transfer systems such as quickness, cleanness, and safety. Efficiency is a key design parameter since it determines not only the appliance performance but also its environmental impact, with significant socio-political implications. However, it is not easy to determine and compare the actual power converter efficiency operating under highly variable conditions typical of IH. This paper proposes an averaged efficiency parameter elaborated based on technical and typical IH usage conditions that offers a useful value to compare power converters operating under realistic operation conditions. The proposed parameter has been evaluated in some of the most significant power converter topologies used in reported state-of-the-art induction heating systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]