9th International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Metallurgical Processes in Steelmaking - STEELSIM2021

Nowadays, the Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR) process is effectively utilized to manufacture Titanium-based alloys. Most often, an external axial magnetic field (AMF) is deliberately introduced to stabilize the arc. The AMF also impacts the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) in the melt pool, and consequently the solidification (macrosegregation and grain structure) of the ingot. To study the aforementioned phenomena, we propose a 2D axisymmetric swirl model that includes calculation of electromagnetic and thermal fields in the entire system (electrode, vacuum plasma, ingot, and mold) as well as MHD in the melt pool. Both sinusoidal and rectangular variations of AMF are examined. Additionally, the effect of reversal time of the direction of AMF (5 to 30 sec) on MHD in the melt pool, and consequently solidification of the ingot is analysed. Eventually, the model is validated against an experiment.