Electromagnetic Stirring of Molten Gallium using an AC Superconducting Magnet

Abstract

Electromagnetic stirring is an effective method in material processing. We have studied the application of superconducting technology to electromagnetic stirring. In the present paper, an electromagnetic stirring system using Nb-Ti AC superconducting cables was developed and its performance was investigated. Stirring experiments of molten gallium were carried out. It was confirmed that the stirring system worked completely without quenching of the superconducting magnets. The stirring system was able to apply so much rotational electromagnetic force that all of the molten gallium moved to the crucible wall due to centrifugal force and the bottom of the crucible appeared. The superconducting stirring system was compared with a conventional copper magnet coil of the same scale. The electromagnetic force applied to the liquid metal by the superconducting stirring system was about 100 times larger than that created by the copper magnet.