Solid inclusions in an electromagnetically induced recirculated turbulent flow: Simulation and experiment

The paper presents the numerical and the experimental investigation of the particle-laden recirculated turbulent flow of liquid metal that is driven by electromagnetic force. Such flow is typical for induction metallurgical furnaces. The paper describes the behaviour of solid spherical particles that are mixed in the flow from a top surface of a melt and covers 3 stages of an admixing process as well as deposition of inclusions on the wall of a vessel. Experimental investigation of particles concentration at the quasi-stationary stage is fulfilled on the basis of a novel idea: ferromagnetic particles are proposed as a physical model of non-conductive inclusions in liquid metal at the presence of an alternative electromagnetic field. Such particles are separated from the samples of particle laden liquid by a permanent magnet. Such process resulted into investigation of a concentration field of inclusions. This investigation is the first known experimental work for the distribution of solid inclusions in a bulk of electromagnetically driven liquid metal flows. The experiment proves the relevance of the LES-based Euler-Lagrange numerical model under dilute conditions for modelling of the flows in induction furnaces.