Digital Simulation of a Magnetohydrodinamic Pump for Mixing Aluminium Melt During Recycling

Aluminum production is constantly expanding. The primary production of aluminum from natural minerals is associated with high energy and economic costs, while aluminum can be remelted almost an infinite number of times. Depending on the volume, the different layers of the melt have different temperatures and different densities. When such a melt solidifies, its crystal lattice is disrupted and the properties of the material deteriorate. For this reason it is necessary to mix the molten mass in one of the known methods. These methods should be simple, reliable and economical. The purpose of the study: to propose a cost-effective method for mixing the melt with minimal reconstruction of existing furnaces and applied remelting technologies. Methods: it is proposed to use combining mechanical mixing and the use of electromagnetic forces to pump the melt from one part of the bath to another. An induction magnetohydrodynamic alternating current pump is used to implement the method. The concept has been tested on a digital model implemented in the Ansys Electronics Desktop software package. Results: The obtained characteristics confirmed the operability of the device and the required amount of developed force on the melt. The digital model was used as the basis for creating a three-dimensional solid-state design model in the Compass graphics environment. The article describes the design of the device and its layout in the tray of the melting furnace. Practical significance: a simple, reliable and cheap method of mixing aluminum melt during its recycling has been developed.