Numerical simulation of convective flows occuring during AL-4.1WT%CU solidification

Abstract

Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, South Africa, 1-4 July, 2007.

This study presents a numerical simulation of the convective laminar flow, driven by combined thermo-solutally buoyancy forces, under a uniform horizontally applied magnetic field, held during the solidification of a molten alloy Al- 4.1wt%Cu filled in a rectangular cavity. The continuum model, of Bennon and Incropera [1], was used in the development of the mathematical model, representing the solidification phenomena. Following this model, the alloy solidification process is governed by continuity, Navier-Stokes, energy, species and electrical potential conservation equations. Here solved by using finite volume method. The effect intensity of the magnetic field on convective flow has been investigated. The governing equations are firstly non-dimensionalized and are approximated by using a finite volume method.