Numerical Analysis for Heat Transfer of Liquid Metals in Delivery Tube

A finite difference method is adapted to simulate liquid metal flow in deliv-ery tube of spray forming. Numerical calculations of minimum superheat, (which is neededto avoid delivery tube blockade due to metal premature solidification), are conducted fordifferent liquid metals (Fe, Zn, Al ), and process parameters. A semi-quantitative correla-tion is derived. Based on the calculated results, for the minimum superheat, the heatconductivity of delivery tube is the most imortant factor, a inapppropriate selection of tubematerials will cause superheat beyond permission; increasing overpressure also candecrease minimum superheat significantly; the other critical factor is the design of deliverytube configuration, reducing the length / diameter ratio (L/D) can decrease minimum super-heate, specially for metals with high melting point or delivery tube with high thermalconductivity.