Electromagnetic and Thermal-flow Modeling of a Cold-Wall Crucible Induction Melter
Abstract
An approach for modeling cold-wall crucible induction melters is described. Materials in the melt and melter are non-ferromagnetic. In contrast to other modeling works reported in the literature, the numerical models utilize commercial codes. The ANSYS finite element code is employed for electromagnetic field simulations and the STAR-CD finite volume code for thermal-flow calculations. Results from the electromagnetic calculations in the form of local Joule heat and Lorentz force distributions are included as loads in the thermal-flow analysis. This loosely-coupled approach is made possible by the small variation in temperature and, consequently, small variation in electrical properties across the melt as well as the quasi-steady state nature of the thermal flow calculations. A three dimensional finite element grid for electromagnetic calculations is adapted to a similar axisymmetric finite volume grid for data transfer to the thermal-flow model. Results from the electromagnetic model compare well with operational data from a 175 mm diameter melter. Results from the thermal-flow simulation provide insight toward molten metal circulation patterns, temperature variations, and velocity magnitudes. Initial results are included for a model that simulates the formation of a solid (skull) layer on the crucible base and wall. Overall, the modeling approach is shown to producemore »
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 15020519
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-39091
TRN: US200521%%16
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal Name:
- Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. B, Process metallurgy and materials processing science, 36B:141-152
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 36B
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; CRUCIBLES; ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES; ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS; LORENTZ FORCE; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; CERAMIC MELTERS; THERMODYNAMICS; electromagnetic; modelling; induction melter; metal
Citation Formats
Fort, James A, Garnich, Mark R, and Klymyshyn, Nicholas A. Electromagnetic and Thermal-flow Modeling of a Cold-Wall Crucible Induction Melter. United States: N. p., 2005.
Web. doi:10.1007/s11663-005-0014-3.
Fort, James A, Garnich, Mark R, & Klymyshyn, Nicholas A. Electromagnetic and Thermal-flow Modeling of a Cold-Wall Crucible Induction Melter. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-005-0014-3
Fort, James A, Garnich, Mark R, and Klymyshyn, Nicholas A. 2005.
"Electromagnetic and Thermal-flow Modeling of a Cold-Wall Crucible Induction Melter". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-005-0014-3.
@article{osti_15020519,
title = {Electromagnetic and Thermal-flow Modeling of a Cold-Wall Crucible Induction Melter},
author = {Fort, James A and Garnich, Mark R and Klymyshyn, Nicholas A},
abstractNote = {An approach for modeling cold-wall crucible induction melters is described. Materials in the melt and melter are non-ferromagnetic. In contrast to other modeling works reported in the literature, the numerical models utilize commercial codes. The ANSYS finite element code is employed for electromagnetic field simulations and the STAR-CD finite volume code for thermal-flow calculations. Results from the electromagnetic calculations in the form of local Joule heat and Lorentz force distributions are included as loads in the thermal-flow analysis. This loosely-coupled approach is made possible by the small variation in temperature and, consequently, small variation in electrical properties across the melt as well as the quasi-steady state nature of the thermal flow calculations. A three dimensional finite element grid for electromagnetic calculations is adapted to a similar axisymmetric finite volume grid for data transfer to the thermal-flow model. Results from the electromagnetic model compare well with operational data from a 175 mm diameter melter. Results from the thermal-flow simulation provide insight toward molten metal circulation patterns, temperature variations, and velocity magnitudes. Initial results are included for a model that simulates the formation of a solid (skull) layer on the crucible base and wall. Overall, the modeling approach is shown to produce useful results relating operational parameters to the physics of steady state melter operation.},
doi = {10.1007/s11663-005-0014-3},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/15020519},
journal = {Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. B, Process metallurgy and materials processing science, 36B:141-152},
number = ,
volume = 36B,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2005},
month = {Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2005}
}