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Floating zones heated around the equatorial plane: models and simulations

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Abstract

The work presents a discussion of the floating-zone (FZ) problem in terms of fundamental concepts and simulations as well as some prototype applications. New results are included along with a compilation of published material. Working engineering models and generalised correlations are developed, while providing a rigorous framework for deeper understanding and effective treatment of relevant phenomena encountered in the FZ process. The difference between the "half-zone" and the "full-zone" and the related possibility to use one or the other configuration to capture the FZ fundamental hydrodynamics are elucidated. The attention is focused on microgravity fluiddynamic aspects since high-quality material processing is expected to be enabled in the space environment. Moreover, since most of the available experimental data come from onground experimentation, some effort is spent to elucidate the behaviour of the liquid zone under normal gravity conditions.

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  1. MARS (Microgravity Advanced Research and Support) Center, Via Gianturco 31, 80146, Napoli, Italy

    Marcello Lappa

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  1. Marcello Lappa
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Lappa, M. Floating zones heated around the equatorial plane: models and simulations. Microgravity Sci. Technol 15, 36–51 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02870963

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02870963

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