High heat flux testing is a vital part of engineering component validation for fusion technology. Typically, it is an expensive process that is both time and resource intensive. The Heat by Induction to Verify Extremes (HIVE) facility is designed to improve the practicalities of this form of component testing. It provides a faster turnaround for smaller concepts and a more cost-effective approach by utilising induction heating within a small vacuum vessel.

Due to the potential complexity of induced current paths in an induction heating system, the amount and homogeneity of power coupled to a component is difficult to model. This uncertainty increases where components have geometrical features such as the grid pattern castellations that often feature on plasma facing components in fusion reactors.

This project investigates the influence of various castellation patterns on the coupling characteristics of HIVE. It shows that as the number of castellations is increased, the delivered power also increases, due to improved efficiency of the inductive coupling. For the homogeneity, it appears (via IR and visible imagery) that the design of the coil has a more pronounced effect than the castellations, showing that further coil development may improve HIVE’s performance in this area.