Effects of system parameters on MHD flows in rotating magnetic fields

A numerical study is presented of the electromagnetic and hydrodynamic field distributions induced by rotating magnetic fields in a conducting fluid contained in a cylindrical vessel with insulated and conducting walls and ends. Simulations are carried out to determine the effect of various rotating electromagnetic field configuration parameters on magnetohydrodynamic melt flow structure and velocity distributions. Results show that the flow motion consists of the primary azimuthal and secondary meridional flows and that the detailed pattern of these flows changes with the system parameters such as the electric conductivities of the container and the liquids, and the relative positions of the inductor and melts. It is found that the basic structure of the melt velocity distribution is not affected noticeably by the distribution of electromagnetic forces in the case of symmetric distribution, but it changes significantly if this symmetry breaks.