Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

New technology for large scale electromagnetic levitation melting of metals

S. Spitans , E. Baake , B. Nacke , A. Jakoviċs

Institute of Electrotechnology, Leibniz University of Hannover, Wilhelm-Busch-Str. 4, 30167 Hannover, Germany }{ Laboratory for Mathematical Modelling of Environmental and Technological Processes, University of Latvia, 8 Zellu str., LV-1002, Riga, Latvia

Abstract
In this paper, a new drip- and leakage-free approach for electromagnetic (EM) levitation melting of metallic samples with greater weight, stabilized position and free surface shape is presented. The method is validated by a series of experiments and numerical calculations in a single- and in a novel two-frequency EM levitation melting setup. By means of the developed 3D numerical model, the scale-up of the method is verified and the design of the two-frequency levitation melting furnace is optimized to meet the conditions for a stable levitation of 500 g of molten aluminum charge. Restrictions to the choice of AC frequencies are discussed. Figs 9, Refs 13.