3D numerical simulation and experimental investigation of pure tin solidification under natural and forced convection

The numerical simulation of the horizontal solidification of pure tin under natural convection and under forced convection induced by Electromagnetic Stirring (EMS) is presented and compared with experimental results obtained by the ?AFRODITE? benchmark setup, described in several previous publications [6?10]. The experiment consists in solidifying a rectangular ingot (100 ? 10 ? 60 mm) using two lateral heat exchangers which allow the application of a controlled horizontal temperature difference. The experimental temperature difference between the two lateral sides of the sample DT = 40 K and the cooling rate CR = -0.03K/s. Under these conditions the solidification front is planar throughout the experiment. Enthalpy formulation based on fixed-grid techniques is used for the numerical simulations of the phase-change problems, accounting for buoyancy convection and forced convection created by Lorentz forces generated by an external Traveling Magnetic Field (TMF). The temperature distribution obtained by numerical simulation is demonstrated to effectively reproduce the temperature maps obtained from the experimental measurements. The proposed 3D numerical model has demonstrated its effectiveness in predicting the effect of EM stirring on the solidification process in terms of thermal field, dynamic field and the shape and localization of the solidification front.