Effective stirring of liquid metal by a modulated travelling magnetic field

G. Losev¹ - E. Shvydkiy² - I. Sokolov² - A. Pavlinov¹ - I. Kolesnichenko¹

¹ Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics, Ural Branch of RAS, Perm, Russia
² Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia

Abstract
The paper presents results of experimental and numerical studies of the travelling magnetic field effect on the process of liquid metal stirring in a rectangular cavity. A three-dimensional numerical model is proposed to calculate the magnetic field distribution and the flow of liquid GaSnZn alloy. Velocities of the liquid metal flow were measured by an ultrasonic Doppler velocimeter. Comparison of the experimental and numerical data demonstrates good agreement. An increase in current intensity up to 5 A results in maximization of the averaged flow velocity. The focus of this study is the influence of a steady reverse or a pulsed travelling magnetic field. Dependences of the average flow velocity on the magnetic field intensity and modulation period are obtained. Low-frequency modulations of the travelling magnetic field lead to additional flow pulsations. The application of reverse modulations results in breaking of the large-scale mean vortex and in generation of oscillatory flow. Figs 5, Refs 13.