Measuring the velocity in liquid metals is a notoriously difficult problem because these materials are opaque and often hot and aggressive. Especially when liquid metals reach high temperatures, as in metallurgy, the development of reliable, robust, and contactless velocity measurement methods has far-reaching consequences. The goal of the present communication is twofold. First, we will provide an overview of the history of electromagnetic flow measurement starting from Michael Faraday's experiments in 1832. Second, we will describe a novel flow measurement technique in which the problem is reduced to a force measurement that does not require any mechanical contact between the measurement system and the melt. The technique, which we term Lorentz force velocimetry (LFV) [1], [2], is based on exposing the fluid to a magnetic field and measuring the force acting upon the magnetic-field-generating system. We illustrate the physical principles of LFV and report results of comprehensive laboratory experiments which characterise the sensitivity of LFV. We then present results of an industrial test of the technique in the aluminium industry which demonstrates that LFV performs well under harsh industrial conditions. We finally outline some future developments and argue that LFV, if properly designed, has a wide range of potential applications.

[1] A. Thess, E. Votyakov, Y. Kolesnikov, Lorentz Force Velocimetry,

REFERENT: Prof. Andre Thess , Technische Universität Ilmenau
(Eingeladen von Prof. Dr. C. Wagner, AS-FS GÖ)

ORT: DLR Göttingen, Ludwig-Prandtl-Saal (Hörsaal Haus 7, EG)