Experimental measurements within a phase change metallurgical reactor

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Thermal Engineering
• Metallurgical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate measurement of solidification front evolution is crucial for optimizing metallurgical processes.
• Current methods for thermal characterization of phase change reactors are often tedious and imprecise.
• Industry requires reliable instruments for studying phase change materials at high temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an original experimental setup for studying the thermal behavior of high-temperature phase change materials up to 1000 °C.
• To enable researchers to evaluate the 2D solid solidification front evolution over time.
• To provide reliable instruments for the thermal characterization of phase change reactors.

Main Methods:

• Development of an original experimental setup for analyzing high-temperature phase change materials (zinc and molten salts).
• Utilizing thermocouples and a mechanical probe to measure solidification rates.
• Employing an infrared camera to correlate external thermal behavior with internal solidification front evolution.

Main Results:

• The study successfully analyzed the behavior of zinc and molten salts at high temperatures.
• A solidification rate of 20 mm h⁻¹ was measured for zinc using two independent methods.
• The research demonstrated the capability to evaluate 2D solidification front evolution.
• An infrared camera provided insights linking external thermal patterns to internal solidification dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The developed experimental setup offers a precise and efficient method for measuring solidification front evolution.
• The instrument shows promise as a novel external sensor when integrated with inverse numerical methods.
• This work contributes to improved thermal characterization of phase change materials in industrial applications.