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Since 1990 the FUS-ING Section has been studying time-dependent electromagnetic
fields, also with the use of the ANSYSİ finite-element code. The main activity
concerns the calculation of electromagnetic and thermal-mechanic quantities
in systems having mutually coupled coils, in both steady-state and transient
regimes.
The following activities regard applications in the field of thermonuclear
research:
The electromagnetic calculation and finite-element analysis systems developed
with the Community contributions in the framework of the European
Fusion Programme on Controlled Thermonuclear Research have also been applied
in industry.
One main application is the study and optimisation of the design
and operation parameters of an electric induction
furnace, part of an innovative
process (In-Line Strip Production or ISP) for fabricating thin coils in special
steel at the ARVEDI steelworks at Cremona.
The activity involved studying the
heat-diffusion process inside thin slabs while they pass
through the series of the different sections of the furnace.
The instrument made it possible to link together the various production parameters (type, thickness and speed of the slab; number of windings and number of modules and their position in the furnace; current intensity and frequency of the furnace coils), while taking into account the passive magnetic elements present in the system. The results of the simulation were in excellent agreement with the experimental measurements.
[Click on image for explanation and animated film of heat diffusion process !]
This activity has been officially
recognised by the European Community as an industrial spin-off from nuclear
fusion research.
To increase the capacity of the code, a direct line has been
set up with the experts at ANSYSİ Inc. Global Headquarters at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania,
USA. This has also enabled ANSYSİ to improve some of the circuit elements
used in the simulation.
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