In the mathematical model of the VAR process developed at Nancy, the coupled
transport equations are solved in transient conditions, using an evolutive mesh
for the ingot. The turbulent flow of the liquid metal is described by a k-ε
method. The main physical phenomena included in the model are: latent heat dissipation,
solute partitioning at solidification and liquid flow in the mushy zone. The model allows
to represent the entire cycle of melting and electromagnetic stirring, and to relate
directly the operational parameters to the metallurgical quality of the product.
After validation, it has been implemented in a simulation software for an industrial
sequence of triple VAR remelting. This software is currently used in industry.