An experimental prototype of an innovative fluid-driven electromagnetic stirring technique

Abstract

A new electromagnetic stirring technique that is driven by hydrodynamic forces was presented. This technique offers the following advantages. First, the stirrer can be immersed in the liquid metal, thereby significantly increasing the penetration depth of the electromagnetic forces and significantly improving the stirring efficiency; thus, this technique is particularly suitable for large-scale liquid metal. Second, under certain conditions, this technique can overcome difficulties that are encountered with traditional stirrers, such as accessing regions that are difficult to reach in working spaces with complex or narrow shapes. This stirrer also has a simpler structure than a traditional stirrer; thus, the design can be easily modified, and no external power supply is required. An experimental prototype was also presented for controlling the fluid flow rate, thereby controlling the electromagnetic force and velocity field of the driven liquid metal. The velocity distribution in a liquid GaInSn alloy under fluid-driven electromagnetic stirring was quantitatively measured using ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry (UDV). The primary results show that a remarkable velocity field has been achieved and that fluid-driven electromagnetic stirring is an effective means of stirring liquid metal. Finally, the potential applications of this technique in industry, along with key challenges, were discussed.