Analysis of direct mechanical into thermal energy conversion using eddy currents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31548/Abstract
The article presents the results of an experimental study on the operation of an induction heat energy generator, which implements the conversion of mechanical energy from the rotation of a magnetic disk into thermal energy through eddy currents induced in a conductive metal plate by an alternating magnetic field. The object of the research is the process of direct conversion of mechanical energy into heat. The experimental setup consists of a rotor with permanent magnets arranged in a circular pattern, rotating above a steel plate. As the magnetic field moves relative to the conductor, eddy currents are induced, resulting in heating due to Joule losses. The influence of the structural and magnetic parameters of the setup on the amount of thermal loss power is investigated, particularly the frequency of magnetic field variation, the magnetic flux density, and the distance to the plate. To verify the experimentally obtained values, a theoretical formula for calculating eddy current power loss was used, which accounts for the magnetic induction, frequency of field variation, and the electrical properties of the material. A comparison between theoretical and experimental results showed a discrepancy of less than 10%. The obtained results can be applied in the development of contactless heating systems, energy recovery systems, and power units with direct mechanical-to-thermal energy conversion, especially for wind and hydraulic turbines.
Key words: renewable energy sources, wind energy, induction heating, eddy currents, permanent magnets, heat energy generator, contactless heating, direct energy conversion, rotational motion
References
1. Eurostat. (n.d.). Energy consumption in households. Statistics Explained. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Energy_consumption_in_households
2. Sobor, I., Chiciuc, A., Ciuperca, R., & Rachier, V. (2011). Concerning the conversion efficiency increase of the available wind potential. Annals of the University of Craiova, Electrical Engineering Series, 35, 122-127.
3. Tudorache, T., Melcescu, L., & Predescu, M. (2015). Analysis of a permanent magnet eddy current heater driven by a wind turbine. Advances in Electrical and Computer Engineering, 15 (3), 95–102. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4316/AECE.2015.03013
4. Makarchuk, O., Rusek, A., Shchur, I., & Shchur, V. (2015). The electromagnetic transformer of mechanical energy into heat for wind turbine. Przegląd Elektrotechniczny, 91 (1), 166–169. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15199/48.2015.01.40
5. Fiorillo, F. (2004). Measurement and characterization of magnetic materials (p. 31). Elsevier Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-257251-3
Published
Issue
Section
License
Relationship between right holders and users shall be governed by the terms of the license Creative Commons Attribution – non-commercial – Distribution On Same Conditions 4.0 international (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0):https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.uk
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
