Numerical Simulation of Mass and Heat Transport in Induction Channel Furnaces

The induction channel furnace (ICF) is widely used in industry for melting, holding and casting of metals. But up to now there are still open questions regarding the heat and mass exchange in the inductor channel itself and between the channel and the bath. In this paper the melt flow velocities and the temperature distribution in the melt of the ICF are modelled using 3D electromagnetic model and a 3D transient LES approach. The numerical results are verified by temperature and velocity distributions measured in an experimental full scale inductor channel furnace operating with Woods metal, as a low temperature model melt. After successful validation of the numerical model it is applied to industrial ICFs of different power scales, operating with cast iron, aluminium and zinc. 1