Experimental measurements within a phase change metallurgical reactor

The measurement of solidification front evolution is essential for the optimization and control of many important metallurgical processes. However, this measurement is tedious, imprecise, and time consuming. More generally, industry needs reliable instruments for the thermal characterization of phase change reactors. This paper enables researchers with means and instruments to study the thermal behavior of processes involving the transformation of phase change materials up to 1000 °C. In this work, an original experimental setup is described to analyze the behavior of two high temperature phase change materials: zinc and molten salts. In particular, it is possible to evaluate the 2D solid solidification front evolution with time. The measurements done with zinc show the presence of two thermal regimes. A solidification rate of 20 mm h(-1) is measured with two different approaches: thermocouples and a mechanical probe. Finally, an infrared camera is also used to make the link between the external thermal behavior and the solidification front evolution inside the reactor. When implemented within an inverse numerical method, the use of this instrument as a new external sensor looks promising.