New Developments in High-Frequency Power Sources

The induction heating industry has recently introduced a new high-frequency power source, the static frequency converter. The converter uses solid-state low-loss thyristors to guide currents to the induction heating load generating high-frequency power at high efficiency. Unlike the conventional motor generator, the output frequency of the static converter is variable, being self-controlled from the induction heating load. It follows the load impedance and adjusts itself to maintain preset conditions. This paper describes to the potential induction heating user what a static converter is, how it works, and how it compares with its more familiar counterpart, the motor-generator.