Experimental study of liquid metal flows under volute traveling magnetic fields

Abstract

Two kinds of volute traveling magnetic fields were simultaneously imposed on free surface of molten gallium. These fields drove an outward radial flow over 30 cm/s with small circumferential velocity component near the free surface of the molten gallium. Diverging radial flow causes upward component of the velocity near the surface. It was induced in wide area r < 70 mm in the vessel of 180 mm diameter. The upward component of the velocity was estimated to be 2-3 cm/s. Gallium in the vessel circulates once per 6 seconds. This surface stirrer with soft-magnetic ferrite cores performed continuous operation over 30 minutes that is much longer than the operation time of the coreless surface stirrer. This stirrer is expected to enhance interfacial reactions at slag/metal interface when it is applied to a ladle in steel making.