Electromagnetic flow control in liquid metals using Lorentz force techniques

Abstract Flow measurement and flow control in opaque and aggressive liquids such as metal melts are challenging tasks in industrial fluid mechanics. Optical measurement techniques as well as submerging probes or control units cannot be applied in case of highly severe environment; hence, contactless electromagnetic methods are of interest for practical flow control because of relatively high electrical conductivity of investigated materials. In this paper we present working principle and experimental results of two such contactless techniques. First, time‐of‐flight Lorentz force velocimetry (LFV), which allows to determine the flow rate of liquid metal without information about any fluid properties or magnetic field magnitude by cross‐correlation of two Lorentz force signals. Secondly, Lorentz torque velocimetry (LTV) ‐ a technique, which uses an electromagnetic pump with a torque sensor connected to the pump's shaft. In the methods so‐called Lorentz force [1] is measured, which has electromagnetic nature and is proportional to velocity and flow rate of conductive liquid. (© 2014 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)