The vaporization of an electrically conducting droplet through the use of an external alternating magnetic field

A nondimensionalized model is developed for a falling, electrically conducting, spherical droplet undergoing equilibrium vaporization. Vaporization is caused by the presence of an external, alternating magnetic field. This model incorporates the influence of magnetic field parameters, phase change, convective heat transfer and radiative heat transfer. The model is used to predict the behavior of a stationary droplet under the same conditions. An experimental electromagnetic vaporization device is designed and constructed. Experimental vaporization rates obtained from the device are found to be in good agreement with numerical results from the stationary model for low power levels. A discrepancy between experimental data and the model for higher power levels is attributed to the formation of a thin metal film in the experimental device.