G. Siwiec

IMPURITIES REMOVAL PROCESS FROM THE VACUUM INDUCTION FURNACE CHARGE: A NUMERICAL STUDY

The technology of mental melting in a vacuum induction furnace enables the efficient removal of impurities and provides an opportunity to melt refractory metals, such as titanium. These materials can be applied in cutting edge technologies, such as aviation (turbine blades) and biotechnology (prosthesis and implants). To control metallurgical heat and mass processes within an induction furnace, measurements and a numerical analysis can be conducted. In this paper, numerical approaches are discussed. Simulation requires the development of vacuum induction furnace coupling between fluid dynamics and electromagnetic fields. The proposed numerical domain was modelled as a threedimensional slice with a properly defined periodic boundary condition. To define the analysed electromagnetic problem, a set of Maxwell differential equations was specified. A fluid dynamics sub-model was composed of the mass and momentum conservation equations using the volume of fluid multiphase formulation, two-equation k- turbulence model and species transport to track the inclusion position within the melt. The main purpose of this study was an examination of the impurities removal process via the free surface of the melt within an induction furnace. The coupled computations were performed for five operating conditions, including different power inputs of the inductor. The results indicated a strong influence of the inductor power on the free surface area and therefore on the purification process intensity.