Electromagnetic induction heating for endothermic reactions in energy chemical engineering: a review on susceptor design and reaction coupling

Abstract

The majority of energy chemical processes require heat supply to sustain reactions. The conventional heat supply relies mainly on fossil fuel combustion, plagued by high energy consumption and intensive carbon emissions. Advanced heating technologies are urgently demanded for low-carbon transition. Electromagnetic induction heating (EIH), featuring non-contact heating, ultra-fast temperature ramp rate and high energy efficiency, has emerged as a promising technical pathway for the low-carbon transformation of energy chemical engineering. This paper reviews the research progress of EIH utilization in energy chemical processes, focusing on performance regulation strategies and typical reaction applications of three susceptor categories: carbon-based, macroscopic metal and magnetic nanoparticle susceptors. Carbon-based susceptors enable reactant-heat source integration for high-temperature carbon-involved endothermic reactions such as calcium carbide synthesis; macroscopic metal susceptors combine excellent machinability with heat-catalysis synergy and support tunable temperature gradients for staged conversion; magnetic nanoparticle susceptors feature high specific heating power and excel in microscale local hot spot intensification for medium-low temperature catalysis. Overall, EIH achieves deep heat-reaction coupling and serves as an effective electrification solution for strongly endothermic processes, with excellent adaptability to intermittent green electricity. Future key research directions include long-life susceptor optimization, multiphysics coupling simulation and standardized techno-economic evaluation for industrial scale-up.

Keywords

electromagnetic induction heating / energy chemical engineering / endothermic reaction / susceptor / electrification of chemical processes

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Higher Education Press 2026

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