Applications of Electromagnetic Levitation and Development of Mathematical Models: A Review of the Last 15 Years (2000 to 2015)

Effects of Applied Power on Temperature of Electromagnetic Levitation of Silicon and Silicon-Iron Droplets

“…The generator of the EML generates a non-uniform high frequency alternating current passes through the levitation coil with subjecting the levitated alloy to an argon-hydrogen gas flow [1]. When a conductive sample such as iron is placed in between the non-uniform, high frequency electromagnetic field generated by the levitation coil, the eddy current [10] is induced on the material surface.…”

“…According to the above relation the higher the frequency the thinner or more shallow the heating.On the same time, the interaction between the eddy currents and applied field will generate a lifting force to hold the sample [1]. When the currents in the upper and lower coils flow in opposite directions, a field is produced in which the magnetic field is zero at the center point between the coils and increases in every direction outward.…”

“…The electromagnetic levitation technology was first introduced in 1923 [1].The electromagnetic levitation (EML) furnace technology has a long history, and people have performed many metallurgical experiments with it. Today, the EML are used to assist experiments on melting, purifying, undercooling, and measuring properties, such as removing phosphorus from metallurgical grade silicon or ferrosilicon using EML method to provide solar photovoltaic industry with low cost silicon materials, hence bring the cost of solar energy down.…”

“…At present, an expensive grade of silicon for semiconductor is used for solar cell to convert solar energy into electricity. The use of expensive raw material for photovoltaic industry results in a high cost of photovoltaic electricity, the cost of which is five-time higher than that of the electricity from conventional electricity generation [2][3][4].To upgrade metallurgical silicon to solar grade silicon, a great number of research works have been carried out in this field of using relative inexpensive raw material, metallurgical grade silicon, as a starting materials for the production of solar grade silicon is one of the most economical way to make solar cells [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Solidification refining is an effective way to remove most impurities in molten silicon, which doesn't need any chemical reaction, with the exception of phosphorus and boron [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Kinetic Aspects of Phosphorus Removal from Electromagnetically Levitated 600 MPa Steel Droplets

“…Most of the above technologies can achieve dephosphorization, but the dephosphorization process is also affected by some problems, such as phosphorus reversion to the steel, excessive splashing, and adverse refractory reactions [11,12]. In comparison with the traditional dephosphorization methods, electromagnetic levitation (EML) is a container-less refining technology, in which the molten metal does not have contact with refractories and splashing problems are avoided [13]. With levitated droplets, the liquid metal can be easily exposed to different gas environments and reactions can be investigated at very high temperatures, e.g., 3000 K; surface renewal is fast due to electromagnetic stirring, thus conditions are highly favorable for fast reactions [14].…”