Homogenization of non-conductive particles in EM induced metal flow in a cylindrical vessel

M. Šċepanskis¹ - A. Jakoviċs¹ - B. Nacke²

¹ Laboratory for Mathematical Modelling of Environmental and Technological Processes, University of Latvia, 8 Zeļļu str., LV-1002, Riga, Latvia
² Institute of Electrotechnology, Leibniz University of Hanover, Wilhelm-Busch-Str. 4, D-30167, Hannover, Germany

Abstract
The present paper contains the result of the numerical modelling for the process of particle homogenization in the flow of induction crucible furnaces that includes two mean toroidal recirculated vortices. The LES method is used to simulate the flow of liquid metal and the Lagrangian equation is used for particle tracking. The algorithm is implemented by means of the developed ėwblock{\it {OpenFOAM}\/} software code. The analysis of numerical results allows us to conclude that big non-conductive particles concentrate in the thin layer near the wall and the number of the particles in the layer is much bigger for particles with low density. The homogenization of the particles with the density equal to that of liquid occurs more rapidly than the homogenization of light particles because of different behaviour of the particles in the middle zone of the crucible near the wall. The physical explanation of the particle motion in this zone is presented. Tables 2, Figs 7, Refs 17.