Use of a travelling magnetic field ``rod'' inductor for stirring molten metal in an aluminum bath

S. Khripchenko^{1, 2} - S. Denisov¹ - V. Dolgikh¹ - F. Pavlinov¹

¹ Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics UB RAS, Perm, Russia
² Perm National Research Polytechnic University, Perm, Russia

Abstract
A series of experiments were performed with laboratory aluminum bath models to study forced convection generated by a travelling magnetic field produced by a ``bar'' inductor comprising a system of linear conductors arranged under the bath bottom. AC phases in each conductor were offset from one another by 60^°. A Doppler anemometer was used to measure the velocity profiles of gallium alloy flows driven by the travelling magnetic field. Distribution of impurities inside the laboratory model of the bath at stirring was visualized by a transparent electrolyte. The experiments carried out with gallium and aluminum models show that the vertical temperature gradient decreases due to the stirring motion of the metal. Based on the obtained data, the velocity of melt MHD stirring in the bath of an industrial aluminum furnace was estimated. Figs 11, Refs 7.