A review on the evolution of induction fluid heaters

ABSTRACT

Fossil fuel firing heating systems will be substantially abandoned in the near future due to the zero-carbon goals. They will be replaced with heating systems that use renewable energy sources. Since the investment costs and area requirements of the renewable energy systems are high, the developments of highly efficient electric fluid heating systems have critical importance for a sustainable, environmentally friendly and clean heating. Among the electrical heating systems, induction heaters offer quite easy to use and better adaptability to most heating systems by allowing fluid heating without the necessity for contact. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the evolution of the induction fluid heaters is given by presenting the historical background. The most important milestones of induction fluid heating systems are presented. The development strategies suggested by the different papers including patents are investigated. The findings revealed that induction fluid heating systems, which reach approximately 100% thermal efficiency. These systems are introduced as follows: clean, non-emitting fluid heating system. Because of this, the study concludes that induction fluid heaters are one of the most promising alternatives to other electric heating systems in the long run.

KEYWORDS:

• Fluid heating
• induction
• induction heating
• energy efficiency
• induction fluid heaters
• induction gas heaters

Highlights

• The first review and state-of-the-art situation of induction fluid heaters is conducted.

• The common and distinctive features of the studies are illustrated.

• Induction fluid heating systems emerge as an alternative to recent heaters.

• Induction fluid heating systems may achieve a thermal efficiency of about 100%.

• Induction fluid heaters are expected to have a significant share in the future.

Acknowledgement

This paper is produced from M.Sc. dissertation of Alper KELESOGLU and reorganized for Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental journal. The authors are thankful to Mr. Cuneyt CAKIR for their valuable information supports.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Yalova University [2017/YL/0014].