Annie Gagnoud

Three-dimensional integral method for modeling electromagnetic inductive processes

This paper describes a three-dimensional integral method that models electromagnetic phenomena taking place during inductive melting. The method is well suited to inductive systems undergoing sinusoidal excitation at midrange or high frequencies. Under these conditions, only the surfaces of the conductors need to be meshed. The unknowns of the model are current density and scalar electrical potential. Power density, electromagnetic forces, and electrical impedance can easily be derived. Comparisons between numerical results and measurements confirm the accuracy of the model.

3D finite element method with impedance boundary condition for the modeling of molten metal shape in electromagnetic casting

The aim of this work is to analyze the interactions between the shape of a molten metal and a magnetic field distribution. We propose an iterative method to model the electromagnetic shaping of the melt. The use of impedance boundary condition in finite element method improves the calculation in high frequency configuration. The free surface is determined by equilibrium of the electromagnetic and hydrostatic pressures and implies the use of a moving FEM mesh.

Strategy of coupling to model physical phenomena within molten glass bath heated by direct induction

Purpose – This paper aims to report on a vitrification process based on direct induction that has been developed by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA, France). This process is characterized by currents directly induced inside the molten glass and by the cooling of all the crucible walls. In addition, a mechanical stirring device is used to homogenize the molten glass. This paper presents a global modelling of coupled phenomena that take place within the glass bath.Design/methodology/approach – Electromagnetic, thermal and hydrodynamic phenomena are modelled. The aim of this study is to develop strategy of coupled modelling between these aspects. The thermohydrodynamic calculations are achieved with the Fluent software (distributed by Fluent France) and the electromagnetic aspects are solved by the OPHELIE program based on integral methods (developed in EPM laboratory).Findings – Two configurations are considered: the first deals with thermal convection in an unstirred bath and the second takes into...

EBSD Study on the Effect of a Strong Axial Magnetic Field on the Microstructure and Crystallography of Al-Ni Alloys During Solidification

The effect of a strong magnetic field on the microstructure and crystallography of the primary and eutectic Al3Ni phases in Al-Ni alloys was investigated by using EBSD. The results show that the magnetic field significantly affected the microstructures and crystallography during both volume and directional solidification. As a result, the Al3Ni primary phases were aligned with the 〈001〉 crystal direction along the magnetic field and formed a layer-like structure. The magnetic field intensity, solidification temperature, growth speed, and alloy composition played important roles during the alignment process of the Al3Ni primary phase. Indeed, the alignment degree increased with the magnetic field and the solidification temperature during normal solidification. Moreover, the effect of the magnetic field on the crystallography of the Al-Al3Ni eutectic in the Al-Ni alloys was also studied. The applied magnetic field modified the orientation of the preferred growth direction of the Al3Ni eutectic fiber and the crystallographic orientation relationship of the Al-Al3Ni eutectic. The orientation of the preferred growth direction of the Al3Ni eutectic fiber depended mainly on the solidification direction and the alignment of the Al3Ni primary phase. Furthermore, a method for controlling the crystallization process by adjusting the angle between the solidification direction and the magnetic field was proposed.

EBSD Study of the Influence of a High Magnetic Field on the Microstructure and Orientation of the Al-Si Eutectic During Directional Solidification

The effect of a high magnetic field on the morphology of the Al-Si eutectic was investigated using EBSD technology. The results revealed that the application of the magnetic field modified the morphology of the Al-Si eutectic significantly. Indeed, the magnetic field destroyed the coupled growth of the Al-Si eutectic and caused the formation of the divorced α-Al and Si dendrites at low growth speeds (≤1 μm/s). The magnetic field was also found to refine the eutectic grains and reduce the eutectic spacing at the initial growth stage. Moreover, the magnetic field caused the occurrence of the columnar-to-equiaxed transition of the α-Al phase in the Al-Si eutectic. The abovementioned effects were enhanced as the magnetic field increased. This result should be attributed to the magnetic field restraining the interdiffusion of Si and Al atoms in liquid ahead of the liquid/solid interface and the thermoelectric magnetic force acting on the eutectic lamellae under the magnetic field.

High magnetic field induction of the formation of twinned dendrites during directional solidification of Al–4.5wt%Cu alloy

It is reported that the application of a high magnetic field is capable of inducing the formation of twinned dendrites during directional solidification of Al–4.5wt%Cu alloy. Numerical results reveal that a unidirectional thermoelectric magnetic force acts on tilted dendrites during directional solidification under a magnetic field. This force should be responsible for the formation of twinned dendrites. The work may initiate a new method for inducing twinned dendrites in Al-based alloys via an applied high magnetic field during directional solidification.

Effect of a transverse magnetic field on primary-Si distribution during directional solidification in hypereutectic Al-Si alloy

The effect of a transverse magnetic field on the distribution of the primary Si in a directionally solidified Al-21 wt.% Si alloy is investigated. The results reveal that the application of the magnetic field leads to the appearance of banded structures of primary Si. Furthermore, the inclination of the banded structure decreases with the increase of magnetic-field intensity. The in situ measurement results of the Seebeck signal confirm the existence of a thermoelectric power difference between the solid phase and the liquid phase at the solid/liquid interface in the directionally solidified Al-21 wt.% Si alloy. Thus, the formation of the banded structures should be attributed to the thermoelectric magnetic convection (TEMC) and the resultant force of the primary Si, i.e., gravity force and thermoelectric magnetic force (TEMF). The migration of the primary Si toward the lower left side of the sample is induced by the resultant force, which leads to the formation of banded structures. Moreover, the increase of magnetic-field intensity increases the resultant force of the primary Si, resulting in a decrease of the inclination of banded structure.

Effect of a weak transverse magnetic field on the microstructure in directionally solidified peritectic alloys

Effect of a weak transverse magnetic field on the microstructures in directionally solidified Fe-Ni and Pb-Bi peritectic alloys has been investigated experimentally. The results indicate that the magnetic field can induce the formation of banded and island-like structures and refine the primary phase in peritectic alloys. The above results are enhanced with increasing magnetic field. Furthermore, electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA) analysis reveals that the magnetic field increases the Ni solute content on one side and enhances the solid solubility in the primary phase in the Fe-Ni alloy. The thermoelectric (TE) power difference at the liquid/solid interface of the Pb-Bi peritectic alloy is measured in situ, and the results show that a TE power difference exists at the liquid/solid interface. 3 D numerical simulations for the TE magnetic convection in the liquid are performed, and the results show that a unidirectional TE magnetic convection forms in the liquid near the liquid/solid interface during directional solidification under a transverse magnetic field and that the amplitude of the TE magnetic convection at different scales is different. The TE magnetic convections on the macroscopic interface and the cell/dendrite scales are responsible for the modification of microstructures during directional solidification under a magnetic field.

Modeling of the effect of a thermoelectric magnetic force onto conducting particles immersed in the liquid metal

Simulation of a thermo-electromagnetic force which acts on a conducting particle immersed into liquid metal is performed using multi-gird multi-physics software AEQUATIO. To verify numerical solutions a model thermoelectric problem is solved using two methods. In the first one a phase function is used to indicate the phase transition whereas in the second the solid particle is described with a real frontier of a simplified shape. Numerical and analytical solutions for a model problem qualitatively agree but strong oscillations are observed in a numerical solution with a phase function. Further AEQUQTIO is applied for calculation of the velocity of a dendrite fragment observed in-situ in experiment of solidification of AlCu alloy. Numerical solution gives a good agreement with the experimental observation.

3-D Multistrands Inductor Modeling: Influence of Complex Geometrical Arrangements

We study multistrands inductors in the context of high-frequency induction processes. They present the advantage of reducing Joule losses compared with solid inductors. We remind why that type of cable seems to be promising and what electromagnetic effects are already identified. We have to understand precisely what happens inside the inductor. Numerical simulation of the electromagnetic behavior of these objects is complicated due to the complexity of their 3-D geometry and to the size of the generated numerical system. We have developed a 3-D electromagnetic software based on an integral methods using classical Biot and Savart law. We applied this model for the simulation of multistrands cables with helical arrangement of strands. Execution time is reduced by the parallelization of the system building and the solver. We present some results obtained with 3-D simulations using integral methods for different configurations.