Revised Benchmark Problem for Modeling of Metal Flow and Metal Heaving in Reduction Cells

Stationary metal flow and metal heaving impact both heat balance and cell stability and affects pot tending as well. For improving cell performance and productivity, a good knowledge of these quantities is indispensable. However, limited access restricts the precise determination of the metal flow and heaving by measurements, and sought information must thus be derived from mathematical modeling of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow. The literature is scarce when it comes to benchmark problems for MHD flow in a cell and those cases which are available often suffer from insufficient level of detail, lack of input data and some inconsistencies. In this paper, a benchmark problem is given, resolving the deficiencies identified in the literature. A newly developed MHD model based on ANSYS FLUENT and User Defined Functions is applied to simulate the resulting flow pattern and interface heaving of the two immiscible bath/metal fluids in reduction cells.