Magnetic levitation fluid dynamics

Abstract

This work is concerned with the accurate computation of flow in a rapidly deforming liquid metal droplet, suspended in an AC field. Intense flow motion due to the induced electromagnetic force distorts dynamically the droplet envelope, which is initially spherical. The relative positional change between the liquid metal surface and the surrounding coil means that fluid flow and field computations need to be closely coupled. A spectral technique is used to solve this problem, which is assumed axisymmetric. The computed results are compared against a physical experiment and ideal sphere analytic solutions. A comparison between the magnetic pressure approximation and the full electromagnetic force solutions, shows fundamental differences; the full electromagnetic force solution is necessary for accurate results in most practical applications of this technique. The physical reason for the fundamental discrepancy is the difference in the electromagnetic force representation: only the gradient part of the full force is accounted for in the magnetic pressure approximation. Figs 9, Refs 13.