2004 Volume 90 Issue 6 Pages 394-400
Recently, in the field of refining reactors of steel making processes, new technologies for obtaining high process efficiency are strongly required. Upward Lorentz force due to stationary magnetic field and direct electric current can make rapid mixing between two liquid layers. And it is expected as one of key technologies in developping innovative refining processes. In this process. Lorentz force appears only in the lower liquid by the difference of electrical conductivity, and a part of the lower loquid scatters upward to disperse as small droplets into the upper liquid. This scattering behavior of the lower liquid is important and dominant phenomena to explain the rapid mixing of two liquids.
From the results of experiments using mercury-silicone oil system, it is found that Kelvin-Helmholts instability on the interface causes the first scattering, and successive scattering occur in terms of Rayleagh-Taylor instability. Scattering frequency increases with increasing electric current density. And it also increases the volume of the reservoir even if the lower liquid has suffered the same Lorentz force.
