SoC-Based In-Cycle Load Identification of Induction Heating Appliances

The equivalent load of an induction hob is strongly dependent on many parameters such as the switching frequency, the excitation level and the size, type, and material of the vessel. However, real-time methods with the ability to capture the variation of the load with the excitation level have not been proposed in the literature. This is an essential issue as most of the commercial induction hobs are based on an ac-bus voltage arrangement. This article proposes a method based on a phase-sensitive detector that offers an online tracking of the equivalent impedance for this type of arrangements. This algorithm enables advanced control functionalities such as clustering of vessels, material recognition, and premature detection of ferromagnetic saturation, among others. After simulation and experimental validation, the method is implemented into a prototype with a system-on-chip to verify its real-time behavior. The proposed approach is applied to different real-life situations that prove its great performance and applicability.