Theory of electromagnetic stirring by AC fields

Electromagnetic fields are often used industrially to controlthe flow of liquid metal, and in particular this review is concernedwth applications of alternating fields. An alternating fieldinduces eddy currents in liquid metal which interact with thefield to give a Lorentz body force which is generally rotationaland which must therefore drive fluid motion. We derive generalexpressions for the Lorentz force, showing that it consistsof both steady and oscillatory components. The flow in a circularcylinder due to a rotating field is discussed in detail, sincethis problem is simple to analyse and illustrates several importantgeneral principles. In the high-frequency limit, the field isconfined to a narrow layer on the surface of the conductor,and we derive approximate methods for calculating the surfacemagnetic pressure andthe induced flow. We also examine the otherextreme of slowly alternating fields. As each problem is studied,we discuss practical applications.