Difference between Induction Heating and Resistance Heating


Heating is a process of increasing the temperature of a body at an acceptable level by using thermal energy. The mechanism involved in heating is generally referred as a heating system.

When the process of heating is performed by using the electric current, i.e. the electric current is converted into heat energy by employing a suitable mechanism is called the electric heating. The principle behind the electric heating is the heating effect of electric current which states that when an electric current flows through a conducting medium, the medium resists the flow of this current which results in the rise in temperature of the medium, i.e. the heating of the medium.

Today, different methods of electric heating are available like resistance heating, induction heating, arc heating, dielectric heating, etc.


Let's start with some basics of Resistance Heating and Induction Heating so it becomes easier to understand the differences between them.

What is Induction Heating?

The type of electric heating in which heating a body is done by means of electromagnetic induction is known as induction heating.

In the induction heating, a device called induction heater is used which consists of an electromagnet and an oscillator. The oscillator generates an alternating current (AC) of high frequency, which is passed through the coil of electromagnet.

The changing magnetic field produced by the electromagnet is allowed to link with the object to be heated. This changing magnetic field causes the induction of electric current (called Eddy current) in the body of the object. When this induced current flows through the object, the material of the object resists the current flow and heat it as per the Joule’s law of heating.

One of the most important features of Induction Heating is that it generates the heat inside the object body itself. Which results in less heat loss and rapid heating of the object. Further, it does not require any external contact which may cause contamination issues.

The frequency of AC supply for induction heating depends on the material of object, size of object, coupling and penetration depth, etc. The induction heating is used in industries for surface hardening, melting, brazing, soldering, etc.

What is Resistance Heating?

The type of heating in which the heating of an object takes place due to the resistance of the object in the flow of current through it, is called resistance heating.

The resistance heating is based on the principle of I 2 R loss, which states that if a current of I amperes flows through a conductor having a resistance of R ohms, then the power developed in the conductor in the form of heat is I 2 R, which results in the heating of the body.

In case of resistance heating, we may use alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) for heating. The resistance heating is used in the different electrical appliances and industrial processes such as in electric iron, electric heater, drying, baking of potteries, heat treatment of metals, etc.

Difference between Induction Heating and Resistance Heating

Induction Heating and Resistance Heating are both types of electric heating. However, there are several differences between these two types of heating processes, which are highlighted in the following table −

Basis of Difference Induction Heating Resistance Heating
Definition The type of electric heating in which object is heated by the process of electromagnetic induction is called induction heating. The type of electric heating in which object is heated due to only the resistance of the material of the object is called resistance heating.
Principle of heating The electromagnetic induction is the principle behind the induction heating. The power loss in resistance (I2R loss) is principle used in the resistance heating.
Types There are two types of induction heating namely, direct-induction heating and indirect induction heating. There are two types of resistance heating namely, direct resistance heating and indirect resistance heating.
Current carrying part In case of induction heating, the electric current flows through a coil of an electromagnet of the induction heater. In resistance heating, the electric current flows through a wire of high resistance to produce heat.
Type of current used Induction heating uses alternating current only. In resistance heating, both alternating current and direct current may be used.
Heating part In induction heating, the heat is directly produced in the object to be heated by the electromagnetic induction. In resistance heating, the heat is produced by a resistance wire and then transferred to the object to be heated.
Efficiency The efficiency of induction heating is high. It is because, the heat is produced in the body itself. The efficiency of resistance heating is low because some amount of heat lost in the transference from wire to body.
Time saving Induction heating saves around 50% to 70% of warming-up time. Resistance heating requires large warming-up time. Hence, it is not a time saving process.
Power consumption Induction heating consumes less power. It saves around 30% to 80% of power as compared to resistance heating. Resistance heating consumes relatively more power.
Life of heating device The induction heaters have an average life of 4 to 5 years. The resistance heaters have an average life of around 2 to 3 years.
Effect on working environment Induction heating does not affect the temperature of working environment. Hence, the working environment is easy and comfortable, when the induction heating is used. Resistance heating increases the temperature of working environment.
Temperature control The temperature of induction heating can be controlled with a high precision. There is low precision in the temperature of resistance heating.
Safe to touch The induction heating is safe to touch by hands. Resistance heating is dangerous to touch by hands.
Applications The induction heating is mainly used in industries for surface hardening, melting, brazing, soldering, etc. Resistance heating is used in various domestic, commercial and industrial applications like electric iron, electric heater, cooking and baking, heat treatment of metals, etc.

Conclusion

The most important point that you should note here is that Resistance Heating may use both Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC), whereas Induction Heating works with Alternating Current only.

Updated on: 22-Sep-2022

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