A simulation code for investigating 2D heating of material bodies by low frequency electric fields

The finite difference method has been used to simultaneously solve in two dimensions Maxwell's equations and the heat transfer equation in forms which are appropriate to modelling low frequency electrical heating of solid materials. The nonlinear coupling of these modelling equations, which is due to temperature dependent electrical conductivities, necessitates the use of an explicit-sequential solution method and the limiting of the timestep size to ensure stability. The finite difference equations were modified to account for sharp electrical conductivity differences between different media in the body being heated.The simulation code was tested by comparison of the simulator predictions with the measured results of a physical scale model experiment. The simulation code was able to accurately predict the resistance between the electrodes used for heating, the energy deposition and the temperature rise in the bulk of the physical model.