Abstract
The fact that electric current produces magnetic field, and a live conductor undergoes a force in the field, is the fundamental law of electromagnetism.
In aluminium furnaces, extremely large direct currents are used, and the presence of magnetic fields is familiar to any experienced technician and worker. Recent experiences with large aluminium furnaces have indicated that electromagnetic forces are active to such an extent that the normal operation of the furnaces may be disturbed.
In our plant the theoretical analysis based on the fundamental laws of electromagnetism and the practical measurement with flux meter to evaluate these electromagnetic forces at various points in vertical spike type aluminium furnaces (capacity 50KA) are attempted, and their effects on metal level are investigated experimentally.
Results obtained are as follows:
(1) In the tendency of force distribution in aluminium furnaces, the result of calculation resembles the measured value, although the problem is so complicated that it does not lend itself to precise calculation.
(2) The fact that the difference between the highest and the lowest position of the metal level has attained about 50mm, notwithstanding of the common distance between anode and metal of 50mm, is worthy of note.
