Electromagnetic liquid metal stirrer: verification of the electromagnetic part of the problem

Abstract

We studied a numerical model describing electromagnetic forces that arise in a cylindrical volume of metal placed in the working area of a newly designed electromagnetic stirrer. The combined use of a complex-shaped inductor with a set of 6x6 coils and a power management system makes it possible to generate magnetic fields of almost any topology (in the simplest case, traveling and rotating magnetic fields). To verify the numerical model, we created an experimental setup consisting of an inductor and measuring systems. A good agreement has been achieved between the experimental and numerical data on the distribution of the magnetic field and the magnitude of the generated electromagnetic forces. In particular, the maximum of the curve showing dependence of the moment of the electromagnetic force on the frequency of alternating current is reproduced with good accuracy. The effect of rotation of an electrically conductive medium on the moment of the electromagnetic force acting on this medium was studied numerically. By analyzing the extrema of the moments of electromagnetic forces, we have found the dependence of the frequency of the supply voltage of the windings, which ensures the maximum moment of electromagnetic forces during the rotation of the electrically conductive medium, on the rotation frequency of the medium.