Magnetohydrodynamics Processing and Modeling

Abstract

Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is the scientific field devoted to studying the interaction between electric or magnetic fields and fluid flow in electrically conducting liquids. MHD phenomena appear in a wide range of metal processing applications, either as an unintended consequence of the presence of electric currents during processing or by the deliberate application of external magnetic fields or currents to a process. The allied field of Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (EPM) has many applications, ranging from melting, flow control, melt cleaning, stirring, arc processes (welding, AM, vacuum arc remelting) and electrolytic processes, including recently the field of liquid metal batteries for renewable energy storage. In terms of modeling and simulation, EPM remains a difficult task to master, since in addition to the usual flow, heat transfer, and solidification, one has to address the coupled electric and magnetic fields, often in a dynamic fashion. In this chapter, we divide applications in terms of applied current type, i.e. DC (aluminum electrolysis, vacuum arc remelting) or AC (EM levitation, induction crucibles, PV silicon kerf recycling and the contactless ultrasonic vibration of melts).