NONEQUILIBRIUM EVAPORATION OF MOLTEN-METAL DROPS IN AN ALTERNATING MAGNETIC-FIELD

A lumped analysis of molten-metal droplets moving in an inhomogeneous magnetic field and evaporating in inert-gas surroundings by using three nonequilibrium evaporation models is performed. Results show marked differences (up to 1000 K) in drop temperatures for the diffusion and vacuum-like, high-velocity models but relatively low differences (less than 8%) in the final size of the drop radius. A quasi-steady diffusion convection model accounting for finite relative velocity of droplets with respect to the ambient gas is considered as an intermediate case between these two limits. Ambient gas flowing opposite to the direction of droplet motion can improve the efficiency of the evaporation process.