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1 – 2 of 2Sergejs Pavlovs, Andris Jakovičs and Alexander Chudnovsky
The purpose of this paper is the study of the electro-vortex flow (EVF) as well as heating and melting processes for mini industrial direct current electric arc furnace (DC EAF).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is the study of the electro-vortex flow (EVF) as well as heating and melting processes for mini industrial direct current electric arc furnace (DC EAF).
Design/methodology/approach
A mini DC EAF was designed, manufactured and installed to study the industrial processes of heating and melting a small amount of melt, being 4.6 kg of steel in the case under study. Numerical modelling of metal melting was performed using the enthalpy and porosity approach at equal values and non-equal values of the solidus and liquidus temperatures of the metal. The EVF of the liquid phase of metal was computed using the large eddy simulation model of turbulence. Melt temperature measurements were made using an infrared camera and a probe with a thermocouple sensor. The melt speed was estimated by observing the movement of particles at the top surface of melt.
Findings
The thermal flux for metal heating and melting, which is supplied through an arc spot at the top surface of metal, is estimated using the thermal balance of the furnace at melting point. The melting time was estimated using numerical modelling of heating and melting of metal. The process started at room temperature and finished once whole volume of metal was molten. The evolution of the solid/melt phase boundary as well as evolution of EVF patterns of the melt was studied.
Originality/value
Numerical studies of heating and melting processes in metal were performed in the case of intensive liquid phase turbulent circulation due to the Lorentz force in the melt, which results from the interaction of electrical current with a self-magnetic field.
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E. Baake, A. Jakovics, S. Pavlovs and M. Kirpo
The purpose of this paper is to present in‐depth numerical modelling of heat and mass exchange in industrial induction channel furnace (ICF).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present in‐depth numerical modelling of heat and mass exchange in industrial induction channel furnace (ICF).
Design/methodology/approach
The turbulent heat and mass exchange in the melt is calculated using a three‐dimensional (3D) electromagnetic model and a 3D transient large eddy simulation method. The simulation model has been verified by flow velocity and temperature measurements, which were carried out using an industrial sized channel inductor operating with Wood's metal as a low temperature model melt.
Findings
The ICF is well‐established for melting, holding and casting in the metallurgical industry. But there are still open questions regarding the heat and mass exchange in the inductor channel itself and between the channel and the melt bath. Different new designed channel geometries have been investigated numerically in order to find an optimized shape of the channel, which leads to an improved heat and mass transfer.
Originality/value
Long‐term computations for the industrial ICF have been performed. Low frequency oscillations of the temperature maximum and its position in the ICF channel are considered.
Details