Numerical Simulation Of Thermal And Flow Fields In Induction Skull Melting Process

Induction Skull Melting (ISM) is a widely used process for melting special alloys that are very reactive in the molten condition. Experimental study only is difficult for mastering the melting processing parameters because the ISM experiments are very expensive and even dangerous. Therefore, the numerical study is helpful for determining the processing parameters of ISM, which is a both time and cost saved approach.The geometry model for simulation was based on the information provided by our cooperation partner from Harbin Institute of Technology. The Magnetic intensity, electromagnetic force and induction heating density of the ISM process were simulated by employing ANSYS^TM software.The data transfer interface was established between ANSYS^TM and FLUENT^TM by user-defined function (coded by C language), and the electromagnetic force and induction heating density calculated by ANSYS^TM were respectively introduced to FLUENT^TM as the source terms of the momentum conservation equation and the energy conservation equation.Using FLUENT^TM, with the data from ANSYS^TM, the hump of electromagnetic suspending in Induction Skull Melting process was simulated by force balance equation. The thermal and flow coupling fields were also simulated by using the K-εturbulent model. The distribution and evolution of thermal and flow fields were acquired.The effects of the magnitude of current density, the frequency of current, crucible slot, the relative position between crucible and coil on and the sort of charge on the thermal, flow fields and the figure of hump in Induction Skull Melting process were investigated by simulation in detail.