RT Journal Article
T1 Multiphysics simulation of slag melting in an induction furnace for sustainable silicon production
A1 Bermúdez de Castro López-Varela, Alfredo
A1 Crego Martínez, Óscar
A1 Ferrín González, José Luis
A1 García Correa, Branca
A1 Gómez Pedreira, María Dolores
A1 Martínez Suárez, Iván
A1 Pérez Pérez, Luis Javier
A1 Salgado Rodríguez, María del Pilar
K1 Numerical simulation
K1 Induction furnace
K1 Slag melting
K1 Multiphysics
AB This work presents a multiphysics mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of the slag melting process in an induction furnace, with a focus on the production of sustainable silicon through the EU SisAl Pilot project. The mathematical model incorporates electromagnetic, thermaland hydrodynamic phenomena in a coupled axisymmetric framework to simulate the melting of a CaO-SiO2 slag, a key component in the aluminothermic reduction process for silicon production. The model addresses the challenge of heating the poorly electrically conductive slag using agraphite crucible and it also accounts for buoyancy-driven convection in the molten slag. The numerical simulations are validated against experimental data from pilot scale trials at Elkem’s plant in Norway. In addition, sensitivity analyses are carried out considering both the progressive filling of the furnace and the inclusion of surface-to-surface radiation models.
PB Elsevier
SN 1872-8480
YR 2025
FD 2025-09
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/43031
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/43031
LA eng
NO Bermúdez de Castro López-Varela, A., Crego Martínez, Ó., Ferrín González, J.L., García Correa, B., Gómez Pedreira, M.D., Martínez Suárez, I., Pérez Pérez, L.J. and Salgado Rodríguez, M. del P. Multiphysics simulation of slag melting in an induction furnace for sustainable silicon production. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 145, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2025.116107
NO This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement Nº 869268. It was also partially supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE through grant PID2021-122625OBI00 and by Xunta de Galicia funds under grant GRC GI-1563 - ED431C 2021/15. The authors are particularly grateful to Elkem (especially to Veronika Djupvik and Krister Engvoll) for providing the experimental data used in this paper, and to Fundiciones Rey (especially to Luis Rey and Susana Rey), as well as to Javier Bullón and Jacobo Otero, for their valuable input and the many insightful discussions throughout the project.
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026