Effect of heating conditions on flow patterns during the seeding stage of Kyropoulos sapphire crystal growth

• A DNS of melt convection in industrial Ky furnace was provided.
• The influence of hot zone modification on surface pattern was studied.
• Redistribution of heat flux around the crucible strongly govern the melt flow.

We apply numerical simulation to understand the effect of heating conditions on melt convection in an industrial Ky furnace. The direct numerical simulation (DNS) approach was used to investigate the features of melt flow during the seeding stage. Two different cases of Kyropoulos furnace hot zone design were studied numerically, and results were compared with experimental data to understand the effect of modifications on melt convection.