REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION

SUMMER SCHOOL

Overview

Electromagnetic Processing of Conducting Fluids in Metallurgy and Plasma Systems
Date: 10 July 2026
Time: 09:30–17:30
Location: Montanuniversität Leoben (room TBA)

Join our post-conference Summer School focused on electromagnetic phenomena and applications in metallurgy and plasma systems. The program combines fundamentals and multiphysics perspectives with industrially relevant case studies.

Who should attend: PhD students, early-career researchers, engineers, and all PAMIR participants interested in liquid metals, plasma systems, and electromagnetic processing.

Registration: Details coming soon

Programme

Program overview

TimeLectureSpeaker
09:30–11:00Electrically Induced (Electrovortical) FlowsA. Kharicha
11:00–12:30Atmospheric Electric ArcsM. Al-Nasser
14:00–15:30Electroslag and Vacuum Arc Remelting (ESR & VAR) ProcessesE. Karimi-Sibaki
16:00–17:30EMBr in Continuous CastingA. Vakhrushev

(Lunch break: 12:30–14:00)

Lecture abstracts

09:30–11:00 — Electrically Induced (Electrovortical) Flows (A. Kharicha)

Electrically induced or electrovortical flows occur in electrically conducting liquids when electric currents interact with their own induced or externally applied magnetic fields. The resulting Lorentz force is generally non-conservative, which can generate spontaneous vortical motion even in the absence of mechanical stirring. These flows strongly depend on current path geometry, electrode configuration, and boundary conditions. They play a key role in momentum and heat transport in liquid metal systems. Relevant applications include metallurgical processes, liquid metal batteries, plasma, and electrochemical cells, where flow control is essential for stability and efficiency.

11:00–12:30 — Atmospheric Electric Arcs (M. Al-Nasser)

Atmospheric electric arcs are high-intensity plasma discharges sustained in gas at near-atmospheric pressure. They involve strong coupling between ionization, heat transfer, radiation, and fluid dynamics. Arc behavior is dominated by instabilities such as arc root motion, constriction, and reattachment phenomena. The lecture discusses arc column structure, energy balance, and electrode interaction processes. Applications include welding, circuit breakers, and plasma torches, with emphasis on stability and control strategies.

14:00–15:30 — Electroslag and Vacuum Arc Remelting (ESR & VAR) Processes (E. Karimi-Sibaki)

ESR and VAR are secondary refining processes used for producing high-quality steels and superalloys. In ESR, electrical current flows through molten slag, generating Joule heating that melts a consumable electrode drop by drop. VAR operates under vacuum conditions, where a high-current arc ensures controlled melting and degassing. Both processes improve chemical purity, reduce inclusions, and refine solidification microstructure. The lecture highlights coupled multiphysics modeling: electromagnetism, heat transfer, phase change, and fluid flow in molten pools.

16:00–17:30 — EMBr in Continuous Casting (A. Vakhrushev)

Electromagnetic braking (EMBr) is used in continuous casting to control molten steel flow inside the mold region. A static or traveling magnetic field induces Lorentz forces that oppose jet momentum and damp turbulence. This helps stabilize the steel–slag interface and reduces slag entrainment. EMBr also improves inclusion removal and solidification conditions near the mold walls. The lecture covers field configurations, interaction with jet dynamics, and optimization for industrial casting quality.

Practical information