Fundamental characteristics of molten metal flow control by linear induction motor

Molten metal flow control using linear induction motor is expected much to be a new revolutionary basic technology to realize high quality and low cost processes. We report an experiment with fused metal (melting point: 45°C) and 100 kg molten steel. According to the fused metal experiment, the linear induction motor has a good ability for stopping and acceleration as well as braking of metal flow. However, the electromagnetic force to be able to stop the metal flow in vertical arrangement is several times larger than the one in horizontal arrangement because of the liquid metal effect. A resonance condenser is useful to reduce the required power source capacity. Therefore, to control the molten metal flow, voltage (current) regulation is superior to frequency regulation. Though the large air gap also makes the electromagnetic force reduced, a conductive shorting bar (Z_rB ₂), installed inside the non-conductive firebrick, increases the electromagnetic force