Frequency-synchronized resonant converters for the supply of multiwinding coils in induction cooking appliances

The induction heating principle has been successfully introduced for about 20 years in domestic cooking appliances. The technical developments now concern the improvement of the current appliances and the introduction of new functions. So, one tendency is the design of multiwinding induction coils that are very adaptive concerning the shape and the power capability. This paper describes different original converter topologies designed to supply multiwinding coils, and, in addition, multicoil systems. The proposed topologies are based on particular use and associations of zero-voltage switching series-resonant converters. They are all characterized by a frequency-synchronized operating mode, in order to prevent any acoustic harm that could result from beating frequency-interferences.