Magnetic field control of flow and heat transfer in solidification processes

Abstract

Heat transfer and flow structure play a crucial role in a number of processes, such as casting and solidification. This paper reports a mathematical model and finite element (FEM) numerical simulations aimed at understanding and optimizing the processes that occur in natural convection flows and phase change solidification of continuous casting. The interaction between an external magnetic field and the heat transfer and melt flow is evaluated, and it is shown that the magnetic field may modify the flow, and limit even suppress the melt flow that menace the fine structure of the cast and the casting process parameters. This approach may be utilized in the design phase of the casting system, to optimize the technological parameters - e.g., casting speed, cooling rates, plant.