Effects of a horizontal magnetic field on the cross-sectional distribution of gas bubbles chain rising in a gallium alloy

Abstract

Understanding the behavior of rising bubbles in a liquid metal under the influence of a magnetic field (MF) is crucial for optimizing continuous casting processes. The study experimentally investigated the effects of a horizontal MF on the behavior of bubble chains in a gallium alloy. High-speed ultrasonic computed tomography was used to measure the instantaneous bubble crossing positions in a cylindrical column with an inner diameter of 50 mm. With an increase in the MF strength, the oscillations of the bubbles were suppressed, resulting in the crossing position being concentrated in a certain area of the cross-section. The fluctuations in the time intervals of the chain bubbles decreased. These effects were more pronounced when the magnetic interaction parameter (or Stuart number) was greater than 1. The distribution of bubbles in the direction perpendicular to the MF was widespread slightly compared to that in the direction parallel to the MF; this was noticeable at higher flow rates. The suppression of the wake turbulence induced by the Lorentz force was larger in the direction parallel to the MF than that in the direction perpendicular to the MF. Our results have the potential to be used for the direct verification of numerical models.