Shrink Fitting Steel Pipe Assemblies

Objective

To shrink fit steel pipe assemblies; the end product is a glass processing system

End Product

pipes

Equipment

Ambrell EASYHEAT 7.5 kW, 150-400 kHz solid state induction heating power supply with a workhead and coil specifically designed for this application

Materials

Steel pipe assemblies

Temperature

1,300-1,350 °F (650-700 °C)

Frequency

290 kHz

Testing

A specially designed multiple-turn helical coil was used to provide the required heat for the shrink fitting application. Initial tests were conducted to optimize the power delivered to the assembly and to understand the heating patterns. An optical imager was used to measure the temperature of the assembly during the heating. It was observed that all provided assemblies could be heated with the coil. Heating time ranged from 75 to 150 seconds depending on the size of the part and its wall thickness.

This heat time was less than the client required

Benefits

• Speed: Induction is typically a faster heating method for shrink fitting than alternative heating options.  
• Efficiency: Induction offers instant on/instant off heating and only heats the portion of the part that requires it, making it an efficient option for heating. 
• Reliability: The client can expect the same result in the same amount of time every time, making it ideal for manufacturing processes that demand reliability and consistency

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