| Abstract Scope |
The heat transfer dynamics in the Liquid Metal Cooling (LMC) process, aimed at the production of directionally solidified single crystal, is intricate due to the involvement of two primary heat exchange pairs: the interaction between the mold and the casting metal, and the interaction between the mold and its environment including liquid metal coolant and the furnace. Present numerical simulations face challenges especially in accurately capturing the temperature and flow field evolution within the coolant, resulting in potential inaccuracies in calculating the solidification process. In response to this, the current study proposes a coupled model designed to concurrently calculate the solidification process in a single crystal casting and simulate the temperature and flow fields within the coolant. This coupling is achieved through a mutual exchange of results, where the outcomes of each process serve as boundary conditions for the other. The computational results obtained from the coupled model are compared with experimental measurements taken within the casting and coolant (Sn), revealing a commendable level of agreement. Subsequently, the coupled model is applied to explore the influence of casting sizes and arrangements on temperature and flow of coolant. The simulations yield preliminary yet insightful findings, offering valuable information that may contribute to the optimization of the LMC process. |